What made America Great?

Written by Bill Coate, “Mighty Oaks West Coast Session Facilitator” Retired Marine Colonel

              It was the courage and conviction of ordinary men who believed that men could live free and govern themselves.  They so firmly believed, they signed the Declaration of Independence, full-well knowing they were signing their death warrants.  They enshrined the words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” They fully understood that our rights come from God and not government.  They also understood that the most powerful government in the world is self-government.  Self-government being man controlling his own passions and desires.
Since that time millions of men and women have served that ideal, many sacrificing life and limb so that you and I could live free from the tyranny that has so often been the hallmark of mankind. We certainly didn’t choose when or where we were born but indeed we citizens of these United States have been blessed with a heritage of freedom we did not earn.  It’s our responsibility to not forget the sacrifice of those who have gone before, nor to squander this heritage.
The freedom that was left to us also came with blunt warnings.  Samuel Adams wrote, “No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued when knowledge is diffused and Virtue is preserved.  On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of Foreign Invaders.”  Benjamin Franklin said, “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.  As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.”
We at Mighty Oaks hope that you are enjoying time with your family and friends during this holiday.  We also encourage you to take a minute and reflect on the great blessings that have been poured out on this nation.  Let’s not forget to thank our Creator, love our neighbor, educate our children, and choose to safeguard freedom for another generation.
 

Don’t forget that Chad Robichaux’s new book, An Unfair Advantage in now available  Buy it today!