Fourth of July

 

 

I watched a “60 Minute” interview of historian and author David McCullough by Morley Safer. It’s worth googling. In it he laments young Americans’ historical ignorance [ignorance of history], even at the university level. He says that parents, not teachers, have the responsibility to correct this. In that vein, I would like to recommend that we take some time this Fourth to educate our kids. 

Some ideas are:

1.       Read the Declaration of Independence http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html   [].

2.       Read George Washington’s [McCullough says he’s our greatest president] Farewell Address. Here is a powerful quote from it, which seems appropriate in light of recent laws redefining marriage:

 Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.  [also a link: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp  ].

3.       Remind everyone who’s willing to listen that the concept of “separation of church and state” is not in the Constitution, but in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to some Baptists in Danbury, Connecticut   [     http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html  ] who were concerned about the statement in the Constitution that government should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." They were concerned that if the government assumed it should not make such a law, it was assuming that it actually had the authority to make such a law, and this was not acceptable. Jefferson assured them that a “wall of separation” between church and state would protect their freedom of religion, which was their, and the framers’ primary concern—not to protect Government or people from religion.

Ronald Reagan reminds us of this fact in one of his speeches. 

"George Washington believed that religion, morality, and brotherhood were the pillars of society. He said you couldn't have morality without religion. And yet today we're told that to protect the first amendment, we must expel God, the source of all knowledge, from our children's classrooms. Well, pardon me, but the first amendment was not written to protect the American people from religion; the first amendment was written to protect the American people from government tyranny. (President RONALD WILSON REAGAN)

4.       Let’s remember that government for and by the people presupposes that those people are capable of overcoming the base and natural tendencies of selfishness, and thereby to work for the common good. Furthermore that they not be prone to follow after loud, smooth-talking,  or fear-mongering demagogues.  In other words, if we want to maintain our freedom, we should heed the words of our primary Founding Father, Geo. Washington, and promote religion and morality, since these, more than any other endeavor facilitate the maturity and wisdom necessary to guard against insidious erosions of liberty.

5.       Let’s celebrate our nation’s birth, remember our roots, keep what’s important from the past clear, and pass it on to our children.  The Bible teaches clearly that God wants His people free to worship Him as he has revealed Himself to us. It teaches that freedom is, more than anything else, a spiritual reality attainable through submission to the God Who loves us more than we love our own children. Quoting Ronald Reagan again, “Between the covers of that single Book are all the answers to all the problems that face us today, if we’d only read and believe.”

May God bless America, and may America be worthy of His blessings.