Love of Country
The United States of America is arguably still the most powerful country in the world. We became powerful because of these vital characteristics that have defined our society until now. The most critical aspect of American exceptionalism has always been the unwavering patriotism of its citizens. Patriotism is love and devotion to one’s country and especially the willingness to sacrifice for it. More than that, it is embracing our land and our people and our way of life as a whole and thereby linking our own hopes, dreams, fears, and our emotional balance to that of our country.
When America became the first nation to land a man on the moon, our nation rejoiced. When the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded, America mourned. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor we didn’t just go to war, as a country we transformed our society in a way that had never been seen in the history of the world. In a few short years, twelve million American men joined the armed forces. The entire economic engine of the United States of America shifted course and became an engine of massive war production. Practically every industry and manufacturing process was retooled to produce war weapons and other war materials. Incredibly, an even more startling transition occurred:
Until the 2nd World War, women had remained content to live quietly at home, raising children and caring for their husbands. Overnight however, the country saw most of its young men leave family, homes, and jobs. Women stepped in and joined the workforce in their millions. “Rosie the Riveter” became a symbol of this sea change transformation.
Faith in the American Dream
Capitalism has worked well for America. Whenever we allow the private sector to produce a good or service under the friendly pressure of competition, we see prosperity follow. However, whenever the state sticks its big clumsy paws into anything, the result is buffoonery, inefficiency, chaos, and corruption. We’ve witnessed the inefficiency of bureaucracies staffed with timeclock watching paper pushers. We’ve stood impatiently in line watching public functionaries pacing themselves against their coworkers in a ludicrous game of slowest one is the winner.
I believe our founding fathers were the wisest and smartest of men. They knew that only private industry competing against other private industry could power a successful economic engine. They understood that without a strong competitive free market system our economy would be strangled and ultimately driven into bankruptcy. The Constitution of the United States attempted to place severe limits on the federal government. This was largely successful for 150 prosperous years, but eventually politics found a way to sneak past these pesky restrictions. It was the Supreme Court case: National Labor Relations Board v. Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation, that was the tipping point from a purely capitalist economy into the burgeoning socialist republic we are fast becoming. The decision in the case vastly expanded the assumed powers of the Federal Government…until today we have the Big Government monstrosity known as Obamacare.
Duty to God and Mankind
Duty is the conduct expected of us, the achievement demanded of us, and the service required of us. Our duty to our fellow man and to our God, requires us to think of others instead of merely ourselves. It demands our willing participation in efforts to make ourselves better people and to help others achieve the same. As adults we are expected to know and to follow the rules and the laws of this great nation. Further, we are expected to know and follow the rules of this polite society of ours. The Constitution allows us the freedom to express sentiments that others might disagree with, however that freedom does not give anyone the right to direct hateful speech and vitriol at those they disagree with. Even though there might not be a law against something, our Christian Duty demands that we treat all people with dignity and respect.
As an American of forty-three years of age, I’ve witnessed the steady erosion of patriotism. Nothing exemplifies this so much as President Obama’s pastor of 20 years―Jeremiah Wright―who said:
“The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing ‘God Bless America.’ No, no, no, God damn America! That’s in the Bible for killing innocent people. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme.”
I’ve witnessed the steady erosion of our Free-market economic system as Big Labor joins forces with Big Government and slowly but surely chokes the life out of American businesses. A smothering blanket of federal regulations requiring a staff of attorneys and an entire department of workers just to keep up with, is the best way I know of to kill American business. Meanwhile, if an American wants a guaranteed job with no chance of layoff, yearly pay increases, and lavish benefits ranging from free retirement to free health care, all he need do is secure himself a posh government sinecure.
Finally, I’ve witnessed the wholesale removal of all spiritual teaching from the lives of our children in our public schools. The result has been an epidemic of single-parent homes, rampant drug abuse, high-school drop-outs and teen pregnancy, violence and murder. We are no longer a polite society. Sex and violence on television and in the movies and in popular music exacerbates this growing violent trend. The removal of Christian values and teaching from the classroom is the primary cause.
Lacking any of these: patriotism, capitalism, or Christianity, this country cannot long endure.
