Today is Veteran's Day, and I'm thinking of all the men and women who have served in the wars of this country, dating back to the American Revolution. I'm grateful for their service to our nation; for the sacrifices they made in the name of Liberty and Freedom. The wars that they fought in were not always for virtuous causes, and sadly, there were too many who profited off of them at the expense of millions of young lives throughout the existence of America.
And that brings me to the other thoughts occupying my mind these days ... we are rapidly approaching the 250th anniversary of our nation. While many consider the United States an empire, and therefore wish to come to the foregone conclusion that "empires rarely last over 250 years", I'm not willing to give up on us just yet. First of all, I don't consider America an empire. While empires are usually distinguished as being a central power which exerts control and power over conquered territories and peoples, occupying those territories and enslaving the conquered peoples, America has favored the promotion of democracy and self-determination, and post World War II, has championed national independence and sovereignty. Additionally, our American culture is most often voluntarily embraced, rather than enforced.
I know that we are not a perfect nation and there are those who will argue that our expansion and acquisitions of Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines in recent history, along with our military interventions and economic influence, argue for the "empire" label. The debate is legitimate, but my purpose for writing today covers whether the idea that America still exists as the land of opportunity where people can still dream of the freedom of self-determination, economic self-sufficiency, security, and the hope of a peaceful and prosperous future. Some call that "the American Dream". I like to think of it as God's will for all people.
But I cannot deny that, as a civilization, I see the warning signs of our decline. We are experiencing economic decline [due to government overspending, inflation, and excessive taxation]. We certainly have political instability, and the growing threat of marxist/socialist ideologies within our educational and political institutions, is causing social upheaval. And when the governing power grows increasingly centralized in Washington D.C., rather than being determined by a representative democracy among the people, it fractures our founding principles of individual liberty and self-determination. Finally, the deterioration of our moral and spiritual belief systems serves to cause division and decay within our society. The loss of faith, in both our religious and societal institutions, has the potential to be the final blow to this "great experiment" called The United States of America.
So, now that I've cited the current woes of our nation, I want to tell you why I still have hope for us. At the heart of America lies a legacy that I believe still offers the embers of Freedom and Faith; waiting to be revived and restored in the hearts of those who appreciate and honor the liberty that America can provide. I grew up loving the ideals of our nation's history -- that when we work hard, we can be rewarded with opportunities to make our dreams for our families come true; and that at the heart of the American populace is a shared identity, but also the right to disagree and express our differences. But we must remember that unique heritage. We cannot let our history disappear from our schools or our collective memories. It must be taught and preserved, or the core values and identity of America will be lost.
All I have to do is watch the various newscasts of young people being interviewed across our land to discover that they cannot name the country we fought that gave us our Independence. Some do not even know the name of our first President, nor who wrote the Declaration of Independence. They cannot even name one of the Ten Commandments. Civics classes have been removed from most school curriculum, along with the statues and names of the Founding Fathers. Remember when we memorized and recited the intro to the Gettysburg Address? They have no idea what that is or why it is important to our history.
Yet, I have hope when I read the our U.S. Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, is praising an Independence Day Ceremony activity book that teaches children about our American ideals of liberty, limited government, and Judeo-Christian values -- and in less than 15 minutes, to accommodate their attention span. I have hope, knowing that there is a growing number of parents who home-school, and a growing number of college-age young men and women who are now recognizing the extraordinary good that is in America. I am grateful for the dedication and commitment that the late Charlie Kirk instilled in these young people. Through his example, I have hope they will become the leaders of tomorrow, instilling the goodness that is America, while rooting out the dangerous seeds of materialism, radicalism, and anti-God ideologies.
I want to reiterate that I know America is not perfect. We have made lots of mistakes, and have tried to correct them. We still have a ways to go. But in the midst of the lawlessness and false identity that is trying to overtake this country, I see rays of sunlight and hope. I have faith that God is not done with us yet. I am encouraged by those who have the courage to stand up and call for unity and shared purpose; to bravely pronounce their faith in God and seek to join hands with our fellow citizens of all colors, ethnicities, and creeds in order to preserve this great land in unity. And, by the way, did you know there is an actual American's Creed? Here's a key except:
I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.
I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies. -- Written by a public servant, William Tyler Page in 1917, accepted by the United States House of Representatives on April 3, 1918. How appropriate for Veteran's Day! Thank you to all our veterans who answered that call.
So, I hope you will continue to pray with me for the future of our nation... that we might sustain the hope and promise that is the United States of America, and that it is God's will that we persevere in righteousness for generations to come, turning away from all evil influences and keeping His statutes forever. Amen!
Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
