Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Avalon Chronicles #60: "Liberty and America"

Avalon Chronicles #60: "Liberty and America"

by Allen B. Clark    allenbclark@aol.com

www.combatfaith.com    www.combatfaith.blogspot.com

     In light of all the recent political rhetoric and especially after the horrendous attack in Orlando, I was moved to read George Washington's Farewell Address delivered to Congress on September 17, 1796, Constitution Day. There is magnificent wisdom in his address. Recall he would have had to write it out long-hand, no computer, and most probably no speech writer! We were much smaller then and less diverse than today, but, if any desire to reflect on some unchangeable sentiment about our foundations and values, we could go no further than to recollect the richness of these remarks.

     "The unity of government, which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquillity at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize. But as it is easy to foresee that, from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices employed to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual and immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be abandoned; ...
     For this you have every inducement of sympathy and interest. Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations....You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together; the independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint counsels, and joint efforts of common dangers, sufferings, and successes."

REMEMBER OUR ROOTS AS AMERICANS!

No comments:

Post a Comment