Freedom Shrine – St. Louis Airport

I always enjoy stopping briefly at Freedom Shrines prominently displayed in public places – this time in the St. Louis airport. 

A project of the National Exchange Club,

“The Freedom Shrine is an impressive, permanently mounted collection of 30 of the most important and historic American documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States and the Gettysburg Address. They show our nation’s youth the strength and courage of their forefathers by allowing them to read, with their own eyes, the immortal words of inspired Americans who so decisively changed the course of history.”

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“Developed by the National Exchange Club, the Freedom Shrine originated from the Freedom Train that toured the nation in 1947 carrying an exhibit of historic documents. The purpose of the Freedom Shrine is twofold. It puts before young Americans proof that the freedom and greatness we enjoy today were not purchased easily and reminds them that these gifts must be cherished and protected. Painstakingly researched to guarantee absolute authenticity, the 28 historical American documents that comprise the Shrine were carefully chosen to exemplify the beginnings of our nation and those subsequent turning points of importance which shaped our national character and eminence. The documents of the Shrine, although culled from the past, represent foundation stones which permit the present, as we know it, to exist and the future, as we dream it, to be attainable.”

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Thank you, Exchange Clubs everywhere, for this valuable contribution to the freedom in our nation!

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Protect Us from Ourselves, Please!

image I usually enjoy reading the biting sarcasm usually found on The Onion website, taking most articles with a grain of salt, but today my son’s facebook post drew attention to a classic article from back in 2003 that would be much funnier if it were not so true.

The article began:

“Alarmed by the unhealthy choices they make every day, more and more Americans are calling on the government to enact legislation that will protect them from their own behavior.”

Hey, this isn’t satire.  This is reality! What about seatbelt and motorcycle helmet laws?  Why not protect me from eating that juicy hamburger?

The final paragraph tells it all, highlighting the eternal conflict between personal responsibility and guaranteed salvation:

"The fact is, personal responsibility doesn’t work," Nathansen (Lucifer) said. "Take a good look at the way others around you are living, and I’m sure you’ll agree. It’s time for the American people to demand that someone force them to do something about it."

(My parenthetical comment included.)

From a Patriot to a Princess – A Civil War Letter

imageYesterday, on Memorial Day, the Arizona Republic shared this heart-wrenching letter, written by Sullivan Ballou, a 32-year-old officer, lawyer and former speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, before he left to fight at Bull Run, a battle he would not survive.

As you read this letter, please consider that the name “Sarah” means “princess”, a title befitting the woman so dearly beloved by her valiant patriot, Sullivan Ballou.

 

 July 14, 1861

Camp Clark, Washington

My very dear Sarah:

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days – perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write again, I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more …

I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans on the triumph of the Government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and sufferings of the Revolution. And I am willing – perfectly willing – to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt …

Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me unresistibly on with all these chains to the battle field. The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them for so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and seen our sons grown up to honorable manhood, around us.

I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me – perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar, that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name.

Forgive my many faults and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have oftentimes been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness …

But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the gladdest days and in the darkest nights … always, always, and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath, as the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again.

Sullivan

Note:  The Wikipedia article apparently contains the full text of the letter, including passages omitted from the Arizona Republic article.

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The Power of the Vote

ballotbox Whatever your political persuasion, I believe you must acknowledge that today’s special election in Massachusetts illustrates that a citizen’s personal vote still holds sway in American politics.  A fairly small percentage of the electorate in one small state has effected, perhaps profoundly, the balance of power in Congress, and has signaled a substantial change in momentum for a movement considered by many to be unstoppable but a short year ago.

In the end, it is the will of the  American people, not that of career politicians, that will lead this great country forward.

May we all remember this example and exercise our freedom to vote whenever we get the chance.

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Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone in the blogosphere! Now is a great time to count our blessings and look forward with eager anticipation to the year ahead.

I am most grateful for my wife and family, my God and faith, my employment and professional opportunity, and the freedoms we enjoy in this great country. And also – being able to post this little article from my iPhone while sitting in an airport.

I look forward to completion of the Oracle/Sun merger, the upcoming marriage of one of my sons, the return of another son from two years in Croatia, teaching my daughter how to drive, and other exciting professional and family opportunities.

It is going to be a great year!

Congressional Thanksgiving Proclamation 1782

STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE. IN COMMITTEE of SAFETY, EXETER, November 1, 1782.

ORDERED,
THAT
the following Proclamation for a general THANKSGIVING on the twenty-eighth day of November [instant?], received from the honorable Continental Congress, be forthwith printed, and sent to the several worshipping Assemblies in this State, to whom it is recommended religiously to observe said day, and to abstain from all servile labour thereon.
M. WEARE, President.

By the United States in Congress assembled.

PROCLAMATION.

 IT being the indispensable duty of all Nations, not only to offer up their supplications to ALMIGHTY GOD, the giver of all good, for his gracious assistance in a time of distress, but also in a solemn and public manner to give him praise for his goodness in general, and especially for great and signal interpositions of his providence in their behalf: Therefore the United States in Congress assembled, taking into their consideration the many instances of divine goodness to these States, in the course of the important conflict in which they have been so long engaged; the present happy and promising state of public affairs; and the events of the war, in the course of the year now drawing to a close; particularly the harmony of the public Councils, which is so necessary to the success of the public cause; the perfect union and good understanding which has hitherto subsisted between them and their Allies, notwithstanding the artful and unwearied attempts of the common enemy to divide them; the success of the arms of the United States, and those of their Allies, and the acknowledgment of their independence by another European power, whose friendship and commerce must be of great and lasting advantage to these States:—– Do hereby recommend to the inhabitants of these States in general, to observe, and request the several States to interpose their authority in appointing and commanding the observation of THURSDAY the twenty-eight day of NOVEMBER next, as a day of solemn THANKSGIVING to GOD for all his mercies: and they do further recommend to all ranks, to testify to their gratitude to GOD for his goodness, by a cheerful obedience of his laws, and by promoting, each in his station, and by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness.

Done in Congress, at Philadelphia, the eleventh day of October, in the year of our LORD one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, and of our Sovereignty and Independence, the seventh.
JOHN HANSON, President.
Charles Thomson, Secretary.

PRINTED AT EXETER.

Proclamation and image courtesy of The Library of Congress.

Thanks to History.com for publishing this proclamation.

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Hope for Freedom in Iran

Iranian PlatterA beautiful hand-made Iranian metal platter hangs on the wall of our home, an inheritance from my deceased grandparents, who lived and worked in Iran as agricultural advisors in the mid 1950’s.  The platter is a treasured reminder of their love for the Iranian people and their hope that these good people would someday live in a free society.

In harmony with their dream, I was inspired today by what I read on the Glossology Twitter feed.

A few Glossology tweets:

The servants of fear & darkness do everything they can to stop you because they know freedom & democracy will wash them away.

IRAN you will lead the way for many other countries to become free. Your courage to be free will give them courage to be free.

IRAN, it is your destiny to become a world leader in democracy. Your country will be a shining beacon of freedom someday.

Iran, when I look into the future I see your children growing up happy and free.

When I look into the future I see Iran becoming a free country & a world leader in modern technology, new medicine & culture.

The cry for freedom is not limited to people in the United States.  It is a universal voice from within the soul, pleading to be unleashed from the bonds of slavery and oppression.

We join our hopes and prayers for you, our Iranian brothers and sisters!

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Moral Discipline is Essential for Freedom

The growing ambivalence of our society toward moral behavior was aptly highlighted by the inscription on a T-shirt I saw recently: “It’s not illegal if you don’t get caught!” 

Perhaps you could have expected such a motto to be proclaimed by a rebellious teenager, but no, the t-shirt was worn by an attractive, well-groomed, apparently prosperous, middle-aged woman.

Our founding fathers warned of the consequences of such attitudes.  For example, John Adams, second president of the United States, offered this counsel:

"Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it 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, and if this cannot be inspired into our People in a greater Measure, than they have it now, they may change their Rulers and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty."

I was impressed recently by a discourse entitled “Moral Discipline” given by Todd Christofferson, a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Prior to his call to serve as a full-time General Authority of the Church, Elder Christofferson was associate general counsel of NationsBank Corporation (now Bank of America) in Charlotte, North Carolina.   His experience as an attorney in the financial services market coupled with his insight as an ecclesiastical leader offer a unique perspective to this subject.

… we all possess the God-given gift of moral agency—the right to make choices and the obligation to account for those choices (see D&C 101:78). … for positive outcomes, moral agency must be accompanied by moral discipline.

By “moral discipline,” I mean self-discipline based on moral standards. Moral discipline is the consistent exercise of agency to choose the right because it is right, even when it is hard. It rejects the self-absorbed life in favor of developing character worthy of respect and true greatness through Christlike service (see Mark 10:42–45). The root of the word discipline is shared by the word disciple, suggesting to the mind the fact that conformity to the example and teachings of Jesus Christ is the ideal discipline that, coupled with His grace, forms a virtuous and morally excellent person.

Elder Christofferson proceeded to explain the results of behavior  John Adams warned about:

The societies in which many of us live have for more than a generation failed to foster moral discipline. They have taught that truth is relative and that everyone decides for himself or herself what is right. Concepts such as sin and wrong have been condemned as “value judgments.” As the Lord describes it, “Every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god” (D&C 1:16).

As a consequence, self-discipline has eroded and societies are left to try to maintain order and civility by compulsion. The lack of internal control by individuals breeds external control by governments. One columnist observed that “gentlemanly behavior [for example, once] protected women from coarse behavior. Today, we expect sexual harassment laws to restrain coarse behavior. . . .

“Policemen and laws can never replace customs, traditions and moral values as a means for regulating human behavior. At best, the police and criminal justice system are the last desperate line of defense for a civilized society. Our increased reliance on laws to regulate behavior is a measure of how uncivilized we’ve become.”2

An associate of mine recently posed an interesting question, “Can you legislate morality?”  It became clear in our discussion that while you certainly cannot force someone to have moral discipline, our laws are certainly based on moral principles.  In the United States, the origin of these principles are clearly traced back via the Judeao-Christian tradition to the Ten Commandments.  However, when we rely on external enforcement rather than personal discipline to maintain harmony with those principles (the “it’s not illegal if you don’t get caught” mentality),  chaos may replace civil order.

In most of the world, we have been experiencing an extended and devastating economic recession. It was brought on by multiple causes, but one of the major causes was widespread dishonest and unethical conduct, particularly in the U.S. housing and financial markets. Reactions have focused on enacting more and stronger regulation. Perhaps that may dissuade some from unprincipled conduct, but others will simply get more creative in their circumvention.3 There could never be enough rules so finely crafted as to anticipate and cover every situation, and even if there were, enforcement would be impossibly expensive and burdensome. This approach leads to diminished freedom for everyone. In the memorable phrase of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, “We would not accept the yoke of Christ; so now we must tremble at the yoke of Caesar.”4

In the end, it is only an internal moral compass in each individual that can effectively deal with the root causes as well as the symptoms of societal decay. Societies will struggle in vain to establish the common good until sin is denounced as sin and moral discipline takes its place in the pantheon of civic virtues.5

Let me repeat one phrase that strikes to the heart of the matter, “There could never be enough rules so finely crafted as to anticipate and cover every situation, and even if there were, enforcement would be impossibly expensive and burdensome. This approach leads to diminished freedom for everyone.”

The answer to the chaos that reigns in our world is not more government regulation. It doesn’t lie in tougher enforcement.  The real solution cannot be legislated.  We as American citizens must individually and together develop the internal moral discipline that is essential for freedom to exist.

Consider the words of these great Presidents of the United States:

"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. … 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."
George Washington, First President of the United States

"God who gave us life, gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure  when we have removed their only firm basis,  a conviction in the minds of the people,  that these liberties are a gift from God?"
Thomas Jefferson, Third President of the United States

"We have been the recipient of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious Hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our heart, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own."
Abraham Lincoln, Sixteenth President of the United States

It is my hope that we as Americans can answer the call for moral discipline – first by cultivating such attitudes and behavior in our own lives and then persuading others to do likewise.  Therein lies the the real answer for our troubled times – freedom earned through moral discipline bringing victory over tyranny.

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