Intellectual
Goal: Read twelve books
Recently, I read The Founders' Almanac: A Practical Guide to the Notable Events, Greatest Leaders & Most Eloquent Words of the American Founding. I decided that I would read this when Independence Day was just about around the corner. The title might suggest a boring read, but let me tell you, with every turn of the page my pride in our country swelled as I realize all that went before us.
I have to admit, however, that I'm becoming increasingly alarmed about our great country. It seems that we have lost our moorings - our national character. In essence, we have become America - the Apathetic.
Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, in 1787 had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years earlier:
"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government.’A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.’
The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years.
During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence:
1. from bondage to spiritual faith;
2. from spiritual faith to great courage;
3. from courage to liberty;
4. from liberty to abundance;
5. from abundance to complacency;
6. from complacency to apathy;
7. from apathy to dependence;
8. from dependence back into bondage."
In one chapter the author has quotations from the Founders on a variety of subjects. In the Character section he has two quotes that made me stop and think. The are:
Our country's demise is almost certain and our standing in the world is waning. I would say that we are at step #7 and leaning to #8. I think this is because we have forgotten who we are and what we stand for as a nation. Reread the quotes from Adams and Jefferson. Our Founding Fathers recognized that for a country to be strong, it needed to be a nation of laws and virtuous citizens.
Furthermore, without a strong moral compass and understanding that there is an absolute truth, we don't need to fear the Chinese or another standing army. No, we need to fear our own neighbor; whether he/she is next door, our own home, the lectern at college, or in our government.
Oh well, whatever. I think there is something waiting to entertain me.
Goal: Read twelve books
Recently, I read The Founders' Almanac: A Practical Guide to the Notable Events, Greatest Leaders & Most Eloquent Words of the American Founding. I decided that I would read this when Independence Day was just about around the corner. The title might suggest a boring read, but let me tell you, with every turn of the page my pride in our country swelled as I realize all that went before us.
I have to admit, however, that I'm becoming increasingly alarmed about our great country. It seems that we have lost our moorings - our national character. In essence, we have become America - the Apathetic.
Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, in 1787 had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years earlier:
"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government.’A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.’
The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years.
During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence:
1. from bondage to spiritual faith;
2. from spiritual faith to great courage;
3. from courage to liberty;
4. from liberty to abundance;
5. from abundance to complacency;
6. from complacency to apathy;
7. from apathy to dependence;
8. from dependence back into bondage."
In one chapter the author has quotations from the Founders on a variety of subjects. In the Character section he has two quotes that made me stop and think. The are:
"Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt."
Samuel Adams, from an essay in The Public Advertiser, 1749
"It is the manners and spirit of a people which preserve a republic in vigor. A degeneracy in these is a canker which soon eats to the heart of its laws and constitution."
Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XIX, 1787
Our country's demise is almost certain and our standing in the world is waning. I would say that we are at step #7 and leaning to #8. I think this is because we have forgotten who we are and what we stand for as a nation. Reread the quotes from Adams and Jefferson. Our Founding Fathers recognized that for a country to be strong, it needed to be a nation of laws and virtuous citizens.
Furthermore, without a strong moral compass and understanding that there is an absolute truth, we don't need to fear the Chinese or another standing army. No, we need to fear our own neighbor; whether he/she is next door, our own home, the lectern at college, or in our government.
Oh well, whatever. I think there is something waiting to entertain me.
*Disclaimer - I do not watch this show. For illustration purposes only.
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