Tuesday, September 11, 2001
Dear Family:
I have stressed the importance that each of you represents in this troubled age. Today should awaken afresh in each of our minds the importance of developing a solid foundation on which to build our lives and to demonstrate for our children. This country is the only place in the world where the citizenry has the freedom to practice their faith and select those who will lead the nation. Slowly but surely attack after attack is being launched against the moral fiber of our youth. We have permitted some of our politicians and leaders to set an example of immoral and unethical character. We have too often permitted the ends to justify the means regardless of the means. That is no longer good enough. I will be gone from this world before the turn of another century, but my children and grand children will not. They will have to live with and deal with the world I leave behind. Unless I guide my children to the creator of the universe and demonstrate to them how to have a meaningful and personal relationship with him and his son, how can I be sure they will stand the test of time. I want my grand children to know that their ancestors were all descendents of a man not an ape. I want my children and grand children to know that there is a God and that this God created the universe and everything in it. I want them to know that this God created mankind to love him and to be loved by him. I want my children to know that this God has told his creatures "when a man's ways are pleasing to God even his enemies will be at peace with him". It is obvious that some of our ways are not pleasing to God for our enemies are not at peace with us. This nation was founded on Judeo Christian principals. Yet we are more concerned with the last part of the 1st amendment than with the first part. The freedom of speech, right of peaceable assembly are abused continually without challenge yet for those who seek to exercise their right to exercise their religious freedom is challenged on every turn as violation of separation of church and state. I don't see those words in the 1st amendment. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
When I hear attacks on the rights of the people of this country to openly glorify God in everything we do. I have to say the critics don't know the history of this country. Even the facts of the Columbus story points to the bases on which this country was discovered and founded.
Hispaniola. After mass and communion, the fleet set sail for the unknown on August 3, 1492, at eight in the morning. They sought to gain a Christian empire for God and the queen of Castile, and for themselves great wealth. All these men became heroes for their faith and their determination to sail the vast unexplored ocean. Much well deserved recognition must go to the scholar Alice R. Gould for her very thorough research. These seafaring men were not merely greedy sailors or common adventurers: for their spiritual and physical strength and their high purpose, we must view them as missionaries and crusaders. Through their efforts, the world was radically changed. Between August 3 and October 12, 1492, these were brave men who created history even though it is only Columbus whom we honor today--ungrateful mankind! It was an extraordinary feat carried out by a handful of intrepid men five hundred years ago, while their families remained praying and waiting for their return from the unknown. As we celebrate the five hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America we must not forget the uncertainties, the suffering and the fear which these men knew as they sailed an uncharted course on such frail caravels with nothing in sight but the enigmatic and powerful ocean, nor the pain of the anxious relatives who waited for them more than seven months sustained only by their prayers and their faith in God. It was no easy enterprise, so they are all anonymous heroes as well as their parents, wives and children, who watchfully scanned the horizon every day hoping to glimpse the great square sail of the Santa Maria with the Christian cross. However, the Santa Maria was the only ship which did not return. The two smaller ones sailed home separated by bad weather. Four centuries passed. Spain celebrated the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America, and a poet, a descendant of Spaniards and Chorotega or Nagrandano Indians, baptized as Felix Ruben Garcia Sarmiento, but widely known as Ruben Dario, went to Madrid as part of a delegation from his country, Nicaragua, to participate in the celebration. This brilliant poet wrote a poem entitled To Columbus, from which I have reproduced the following three stanzas: Unfortunate admiral! Your poor America, your beautiful, hot-blooded, virgin Indian love, the pearl of your dreams, is now hysterical, her nerves convulsing and her forehead pale. The cross you brought to us is now decayed, and after the revolution of the rabble, the rabble writing today defiles the language written by great Cervantes and Calderon. Evil mischance has placed afflictions, horrors, wars, and unending fevers in our way: Oh Christopher Columbus, unfortunate admiral, pray to God for the world that you discovered! Reprint permission granted by Five Hundred magazine.
Columbus certainly appears rigidly orthodox in his journal: I say that your Highness ought not to consent that any foreigner does business or sets foot here, except Catholic Christians, since this was the end and the beginning of the enterprise, that it should be for the enhancement and glory of the Christian religion, nor is anyone who is not a good Christian come to these parts. (Varela 42)
Now notice the words pinned by those pilgrims who settled the Virginia colonies;
And forasmuch as it shalbe necessarie for all such our lovinge subjects as shall inhabitt within the said precincts of Virginia aforesaid to determine to live togither in the feare and true woorshipp of Almightie God, Christian peace and civill quietnes, each with other,
It seems as though they were more concerned with the God and church things than the political. I think it is a travesty that we don't see these comments in the history books we teach in classrooms to our children.
Look also at the Mayflower Compact.
The Mayflower Compact
1620
"In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.
In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620."
We just don't teach these attitudes to our children in school. These men were sure that God was a part of everything they did. It just isn't politically correct to teach it to our children or mention it in any of our public forums. What a shame!
And look at the Connecticut Fundamental orders. Bare in mind they also started a school near here some 100 years later called Yale. We just don't mention that it started as a seminary.
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
January 14, 1639
For as much as it hath pleased Almighty God by the wise disposition of his divine providence so to order and dispose of things that we the Inhabitants and Residents of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield are now cohabiting and dwelling in and upon the River of Connectecotte and the lands thereunto adjoining; and well knowing where a people are gathered together the word of God requires that to maintain the peace and union of such a people there should be an orderly and decent Government established according to God, to order and dispose of the affairs of the people at all seasons as occasion shall require; do therefore associate and conjoin ourselves to be as one Public State or Commonwealth; and do for ourselves and our successors and such as shall be adjoined to us at any time hereafter, enter into Combination and Confederation together, to maintain and preserve the liberty and purity of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus which we now profess, as also, the discipline of the Churches, which according to the truth of the said Gospel is now practiced amongst us; as also in our civil affairs to be guided and governed accordinbg to such Laws, Rules, Orders and Decrees as shall be made, ordered, and decreed as followeth:
Wow they said that these things were proclaimed to preserve the liberty and purity of the gospel. Tell that to congress.
This one is great.
The First Thanksgiving Proclamation
June 20, 1676
"The Holy God having by a long and Continual Series of his Afflictive dispensations in and by the present Warr with the Heathen Natives of this land, written and brought to pass bitter things against his own Covenant people in this wilderness, yet so that we evidently discern that in the midst of his judgements he hath remembered mercy, having remembered his Footstool in the day of his sore displeasure against us for our sins, with many singular Intimations of his Fatherly Compassion, and regard; reserving many of our Towns from Desolation Threatened, and attempted by the Enemy, and giving us especially of late with many of our Confederates many signal Advantages against them, without such Disadvantage to ourselves as formerly we have been sensible of, if it be the Lord's mercy that we are not consumed, It certainly bespeaks our positive Thankfulness, when our Enemies are in any measure disappointed or destroyed; and fearing the Lord should take notice under so many Intimations of his returning mercy, we should be found an Insensible people, as not standing before Him with Thanksgiving, as well as lading him with our Complaints in the time of pressing Afflictions:
The Council has thought meet to appoint and set apart the 29th day of this instant June, as a day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such his Goodness and Favour, many Particulars of which mercy might be Instanced, but we doubt not those who are sensible of God's Afflictions, have been as diligent to espy him returning to us; and that the Lord may behold us as a People offering Praise and thereby glorifying Him; the Council doth commend it to the Respective Ministers, Elders and people of this Jurisdiction; Solemnly and seriously to keep the same Beseeching that being perswaded by the mercies of God we may all, even this whole people offer up our bodies and soulds as a living and acceptable Service unto God by Jesus Christ."
Good old Ben even got in on the act.
PHILADELPHIA 1726-1757 by Benjamin Franklin _Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion_ IN TWO PARTS. Here will I hold ------ If there is a Pow'r above us (And that there is, all Nature cries aloud, Thro' all her Works), He must delight in Virtue And that which he delights in must be Happy. Cato.
It is that particular wise and good God, who is the Author and Owner of our System, that I propose for the Object of my Praise and Adoration. For I conceive that he has in himself some of those Passions he has planted in us, and that, since he has given us Reason whereby we are capable of observing his Wisdom in the Creation, he is not above caring for us, being pleas'd with our Praise, and offended when we slight Him, or neglect his Glory. I conceive for many Reasons that he is a _good Being_, and as I should be happy to have so wise, good and powerful a Being my Friend, let me consider in what Manner I shall make myself most acceptable to him. Next to the Praise due, to his Wisdom, I believe he is pleased and delights in the Happiness of those he has created; and since without Virtue Man (*) can have no Happiness in this World, I firmly believe he delights to see me Virtuous, because he is pleas'd when he sees me Happy. (*) See Junto Paper of Good and Evil, &c. And since he has created many Things which seem purely design'd for the Delight of Man, I believe he is not offended when he sees his Children solace themselves in any manner of pleasant Exercises and innocent Delights, and I think no Pleasure innocent that is to Man hurtful. I _love_ him therefore for his Goodness and I _adore_ him for his Wisdom. Let me then not fail to praise my God continually, for it is his Due, and it is all I can return for his many Favours and great Goodness to me; and let me resolve to be virtuous, that I may be happy, that I may please Him, who is delighted to see me happy. Amen. 1. Adoration. 2. Petition. 3. Thanks. Prel. Being mindful that before I address the DEITY, my Soul ought to be calm and Serene, free from Passion and Perturbation, or otherwise elevated with Rational Joy and Pleasure, I ought to use a Countenance that expresses a filial Respect, mixt with a kind of Smiling, that signifies inward Joy, and Satisfaction, and Admiration. O wise God, My good Father, Thou beholdest the Sincerity of my Heart, And of my Devotion; Grant me a Continuance of thy Favour! (1) Powerful Goodness, &c. O Creator, O Father, I believe that thou art Good, and that thou art _pleas'd with the Pleasure_ of thy Children. Praised be thy Name for Ever. (2) By thy Power hast thou made the glorious Sun, with his attending Worlds; from the Energy of thy mighty Will they first received their prodigious Motion, and by thy Wisdom hast thou prescribed the wondrous Laws by which they move. Praised be thy Name for ever. (3) By thy Wisdom hast thou formed all Things, Thou hast created Man, bestowing Life and Reason, and plac'd him in Dignity superior to thy other earthly Creatures. Praised be thy Name for ever. (4) Thy Wisdom, thy Power, and thy GOODNESS are every where clearly seen; in the Air and in the Water, in the Heavens and on the Earth; Thou providest for the various winged Fowl, and the innumerable Inhabitants of the Water; Thou givest Cold and Heat, Rain and Sunshine in their Season, and to the Fruits of the Earth Increase. Praised be thy Name for ever. (5) I believe thou hast given Life to thy Creatures that they might Live, and art not delighted with violent Death and bloody Sacrifices. Praised be thy Name for Ever. (6) Thou abhorrest in thy Creatures Treachery and Deceit, Malice, Revenge, Intemperance and every other hurtful Vice; but Thou art a Lover of Justice and Sincerity, of Friendship, Benevolence and every Virtue. Thou art my Friend, my Father, and my Benefactor. Praised be thy Name, O God, for Ever. Amen
How can the critic say prayer and Christianity have no part in government and politics with such things as those I have shown here. Our heritage is based on the practice of Christianity and the disciplines and attributes Christianity teaches. Virtually every thing you can find in the early years of this country points to our dependence on God and debt we owe to him for giving us the freedom and liberty we are able to enjoy in this country.
Although most of us have been present and witnessed the folding of the American flag yet few of us realize the significance of each of the twelve folds. How can there be a separation of church and state when each evening at the retreat ceremony the flag is lowered, folded into a triangle and kept under watchful eye until morning in honor of the nations dead. Then at reveille the flag is raised as a symbol of our belief in the resurrection of the body.
When I depart this world, I hope a flag folding ceremony will be conducted as described by the Uniformed Service Code so that my children and grandchildren will know what our national heritage really was and is aside from the pollution of years of misinterpretation and misrepresentation of the founding fathers intent. It is time to get back to teaching the history instead of the theory of mankind. History shows that every nation who has turned away from God have utterly been destroyed. We pay lip service but little heart service to our God. We talk the talk but we don't walk the walk.
Now having said all this I must not leave without this brief conclusion. The largest single subject debated by the centennial congress was the subject of religion. Many of the participants wanted Christianity written into the constitution. But one of the wise founding fathers stated that the freedom and liberty Christians seek and proclaim prevents dictating to others to live their lives in accord with the Christian principles. For Christianity is a practice of faith in God and only those who have a sincere relationship with God and his Son Jesus Christ can truly be Christians. This relationship is purely personal and can only be conducted privately, personally and spiritually between the person and God. Therefore it cannot nor must not be legislated nor dictated by other men. While the constitution is based on these Christian principals we can not legislate the personal worship of any man but only protect the right of all men to worship his god by the dictates of his own conscience. While the founding fathers went to great lengths to protect others rights to worship the god of their choice, their intent was in no way to diminish the rights of the Christians (considered by them to be the only true religion) to openly and publicly practice the Christian faith. The debate covered a period of more than three years with numerous letters of argument exchanged during the period. The founding fathers never intended the separation of church and state but rather protection of the church by and from the State. We remain a part of our heritage only as long as our heritage remains a part of the people and government. We can not expect to have the blessings of God on our nation if God has no say in our national government.
Because I can't seem to find and end to this writing at this time and rather than loading you up with 20 pages I will give it to you in multiple parts. This being part one part two will include the flag folding ceremony. Flag Folding
Love
Dad
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