Observations©

By Donald S. Conkey

Date: 19 March 2009 - # 9912 -             Title: Remembering Thomas Jefferson’s 266^th Birthday (820)

Did you or anyone in your family sing happy birthday to Thomas Jefferson last Sunday? It was the 266^th anniversary of his birth on April 12, 1743. Perhaps more pertinent, did anyone even think of Thomas Jefferson on the anniversary of this birth? Probably not!

            Perhaps some will ask, “Why should we remember Jefferson’s birthday?” Why? Because it was Thomas Jefferson who reminded the world, in the Declaration of Independence, that the source of mankind’s liberties are “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God,” and are the cornerstone of America’s liberties. This phrase alone would make Jefferson worthy of the many honors bestowed upon him down through the years. But he did more. He mentored James Madison, the one whom America honors as the Father of its Constitution. While ambassador to France Jefferson sent Madison boxes of books that provided Madison with the knowledge and ‘spiritual preparation’ Madison needed to accomplish his great work.

            There are those who believe that the United States today, in numerous ways, is similar to that period of America’s history that led up to the famous Boston Tea Party. They feel the people are angry at an arrogant government that wants to redistribute wealth. They are growing more fearful of the direction the current administration is leading the country. They do not like their elected leaders apologizing for what America has done or stood for over the past 230 years – restoring liberty to a world then enslaved by tyrannical leaders. Nor do these people like to see Congressional Delegations grovel up to Fidel Castro in Cuba, suggesting that  what Castro is and stands for, tyranny and individual oppression is better that what America has stood for for 230 years.

            But for the new administration to declare to the world that America is not a Judaic/Christian nation is to these people absolute hearsay, totally ignoring this nation’s history in a way never before displayed by any previous administration. It was a betrayal of what the Founding Fathers fought and died for 230 years ago. It was a betrayal of America’s birthright.  

            The newly implemented administrated changes, in the minds of growing numbers, (note the millions attending ‘Tea Parties’ held nationwide yesterday) could undo what the Founders declared as America’s mission in the Constitution’s Preamble: “form a more perfect Union, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” A divided union is not a ‘perfect Union;’ nor does it ‘insure domestic Tranquility;’ nor ‘provide for the common defense or general Welfare;’ and certainly it does not allow for the “Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.”

            When I listened to the declaration that America was now only a nation of citizens, ignoring Americas rich Judaic/Christian heritage, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. But then I remembered Orson Scott Card’s recent declaration of America’s ‘newest religion.’ Card, drawing from the most recent Religious Identification Survey, said that “no religion” and “don’t know/refused” categories are now being seen as “the growth of a powerful new religion.” 

            Card defined this “new religion” as “A fanatical religion – one that does not proselytize so much as insists that it is already the established church, to which all others [churches] must bow and make way.” Card continued: “It is a religion at war with all others [religions], confident of victory, contemptuous of any church that does not fight them, savage against any that shows a sign of resistance.” Card feels this group think of themselves as “post religious. Therefore the rules that govern the behavior of other religions in a multifaith society do not apply to them.”

            Card then compared this “new religion” with the Puritanism that governed England under Cromwell and immigrating to America with the Pilgrims. They had been the “dissenters, and who, after gaining power allowed no dissent to others. They had power, and knew that they deserved the power. Puritanism insisted on its exclusive right to prescribe the behavior and thoughts of all, until, after the death of Cromwell, the groaning people embraced the return of the monarchy.” Puritanism, after Cromwell fell, self-destructed.

            When Benjamin Franklin was asked what the Founders had given the people he replied: “A republic M’am, if you can keep it.” Unfortunately too many don’t understand the difference between a republic and a democracy. They should. And by going to http://www.wimp.com/thegovernment they will learn the difference in 12 minutes and better understand why ignorance of our unique form of government is an enemy of their freedoms. This video should be required viewing by every student worldwide. It’s that powerful.

Hopefully, as “change” continues to unfold under the new administration, the people will more fully realize the republican principles embraced by the Founders also embrace the principles that “ Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are gifts of liberty endowed by their Creator, or Jefferson’s “Nature’s God.”