Monday, July 03, 2006

Happy Birthday America

The United States will celebrate its 230th birthday tomorrow.  Despite apparent internal divisions the nation is still strong and prosperous and a benefit to the rest of the world.  The founding fathers devised a strong model for a civil society that can change with the times yet maintain its sense of community.  Even today with the pressures of illegal immigrants civil discourse is continuing.  The democratic tradition of self-expression is operating smoothly.  Of course there are those that dispute this and they are primarily self-directed and disappointed that their views are not taken as gospel by the rest of us.

Speaking of the gospels is the United States truly founded on the Christian tradition?  The most likely conclusion is yes but with some qualification.  Many of the Founders were Deists and while they believed in the existence of a Creator it is not clear that they were Christians in the modern sense.  The separation from England was practically forced upon the rebels, members of many Christian sects based on the Judaic tradition.  From there we get the Ten Commandments and some legal structure.  Most of the legal system is based on English common law and Enlightment thinkers from England and France.

The United States is a shining example of what is possible.  The rest of the world is envious of the American achievement.  Americans are bewildered by this but they should not be confused.  When any person, institution, or nation is more successful than others anger, jealous, even hatred can result.  This is because all people are not created equal except in the sense of opportunities that are available.  Americans are hard working by culture, willing to take risks, happy to lend a helping hand, even die for some one else’s freedom.

Citizens of the USA are products of many cultures and have embraced the one tradition of the US Constitution.  This makes for interesting debate.  The culture is slowly changing for the worse.  More and more the citizenry thinks the government should rule their lives, the sense of responsibility is waning, and the victim mentality is growing.  The childish concern for what other nations might think of the US is gaining ground.  The left’s promise of Utopia is becoming more attractive.  A warning example should be seen in the fate of New Orleans.  The Democrat Party has ruled the city and the state of Louisiana for more than one hundred years.  It is crime-ridden and poverty stricken.  The gap between the haves and the have-nots is remarkable.  Government corruption is legendary.

Why should one suppose that the extension of this style of government will benefit the nation?

Happy Birthday USA!  All nations who have been saved from oppression, bolstered economically should join the celebration.

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