When Will America Wake Up?
I’m not the kind of person that believes in conspiracy theories. I’m not gullible. I’m the kind of person who believes Americans are Americans first, and political party affiliation second. But, I’m not sure I believe that any more. Let me explain why.
While I wasn’t alive during World War 2, the stories I hear about the country coming together out of patriotism and love for our country are incredible. Everybody gave up something for the cause of winning the war. While it wasn’t a pretty time in our country’s history, Americans were opposed to communism and Marxism following the war. They wanted to protect our nation from radicals who wanted to change our country’s foundation. We’re a nation of the people, by the people and for the people. There are many in our nation who want the country of the government, by the government and for the government.
Today, the Democrats appear more interested in supporting the top of the party rather than protecting America. Republicans are, too. They’re more interested in capitulating their values and appeasing those opposed to our foundation. I believe there are political leaders who who to change our constitution, rather than protect and defend it.
Why can’t both parties just stop with the political battles and start asking the question, “What’s best for our nation?” Why is it ever better to implement a program that isn’t sustainable? When is it better for a country to give something to it’s citizens its citizens don’t want? Why is it better for a country to ignore the mistakes of other nations, and repeat their mistakes. Why is it we allow a president (any president) to circumvent the constitution through executive order. What do I mean?
The Constitution clearly states the Congress passes and approves laws, NOT the president. The president should be allowed to change implementation dates, passes laws, to tell the justice department NOT to enforce certain laws, just because the president says so. Those should be impeachable offenses, wouldn’t you agree?
The frustrating part of all this is that Americans are ignorant. Nearly half of all Americans don’t exercise their right as an American and VOTE. On the other side of this, I really don’t want them to vote because they don’t know what or who they’re voting for. 3/4 of the people who vote are unsure of the issues they’re voting about. They don’t know the candidates, they don’t know the issues. They simply vote the party line — without question.
What’s the answer? A return to God. I know what some of you are saying, “keep religion and politics separate.” Why should we? Our founding fathers didn’t.
Here’s what John Adams said, “[I]t is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue.:
(Source: John Adams, The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States, Charles Francis Adams, editor (Boston: Little, Brown, 1854), Vol. IX, p. 401, to Zabdiel Adams on June 21, 1776.)
“[W]e have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. . . . Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
But, in order for us to turn back to God, our churches need a renewal. In order for revival in churches, we need to repent of our sinful ways and focus our eyes on Christ alone. It’s only then can we expect our country to improve.
In this situation of this Assembly groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine Protection. — Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance.
I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that “except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall be become a reproach and a bye word down to future age. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human Wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.
I therefore beg leave to move — that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that service.
Ben Franklin’s address to the Constitutional Convention, June 28, 1787, Philadelphia, PA