America’s Turmoil
Published in Marietta Daily Journal (GA) July 9/10, 2022
The
British writer G.K. Chesterton wrote, “All revolutions are doctrinal. You
cannot upset things unless you believe something outside them.”
The same is true of every belief of every
stripe, including atheism and secularism. Atheism and secularism are
philosophies, and they are essentially the same. In effect they are both religions. I’m happy
to say that I have friends who are devout atheists or secularists. These
friends are good people of accomplishment and they care about people and the
country. They are not hostile to people of faith. With all respect they take
exception to faith and anything transcendent, truly believing that what you see
is all there is. I see and understand the distinctions they make between
themselves, but I reject their insistence that they are not religious. A belief
system is a belief system.
These friends like to
point out to me that the U.S. Constitution does not contain the name God, and
they are right. However the Declaration of Independence, while not law, is the
document that set in motion the intention of 13 colonies to be free from a
European power. The Declaration, with fire and high purpose, birthed the
Constitution. In so doing, it did and does acknowledge the Creator and even
claims that it is He, not monarchs or government, who endow human beings with
“certain unalienable Rights” in the first place. This acknowledgement is found
in the second sentence.
In the Declaration’s
final sentence, which is a clear prayer of supplication, its writer appeals to
“Divine Providence” for His support as the signers “mutually pledge to each
other (their) lives, fortunes, and sacred honor.” Of the five textbooks from
which I have taught this esteemed political document, three have omitted this
final sentence.
Consider America’s
present turmoil. Ponder the revolutionary spirit that fills the air, a spirit
fraught with notions and policy ideas that have not sprung from either the Declaration,
the Constitution, or the Judeo-Christian ethic that spawned both of these
documents. Notions of governmental power, of human sexuality, and of freedom
itself are being proposed that would shock not only our founders but also the
general population of merely 40 years ago.
Regarding
governmental power, one of the nation’s two major parties has turned almost
entirely to “democratic socialism.” It has stated publicly its desire to pack
the Supreme Court, to curb the right of law-abiding citizens to defend
themselves, and to mark as “racists” or “nationalists,” those who believe a
nation must have borders. The other major party – more precisely its leaders –
often caves to the socialist party in the interest of unity and out of fear
that revolution will break out if there is not “bipartisanship.” These peace-lovers
are the ones who need Chesterton, Edmund Burke, and Patrick Henry the most. A
10th grade world history student can understand that the “democratic
socialist” party has wrapped its views of governance with the philosophy of
Karl Marx. Its solution for every problem is the Nanny State.
Regarding
human sexuality, one of the two nation’s major parties has gone absolutely mad.
With corporate America covering its every flank, it has re-defined for us
sexuality itself. We all hem and haw about this but the issue can be boiled
down to one word, homosexuality. Or as the Apostle Paul put it in the religious
book most used by Americans, “men with men doing that which is unseemly.” Pride
Month was all about celebrating homosexuality and, yes, Seattle’s parade with
fully nude men in front of children was a good example of where we should have
known the LGQBT “community” would lead us. Seattle, thou art America. Why is it
not okay to criticize the LGQBT crowd? Why should they be shielded from
criticism when not one other segment of the culture is? Living their chosen
“lifestyle” is one thing. Flaunting it is another.
As
for freedom itself, wherever he lies buried Patrick Henry weeps. Every year our
freedom is restrained more and more. The FBI has recently raided the homes of
enemies of the Democratic Party in the dead of night. A Congressional committee,
calling its meeting a “hearing,” continues to bring charges against a former
president, disallowing cross examination of its fear-induced witnesses. How
cowardly to slam a former president or anyone else and allow no rebuttal. How pitiful
of the corporations to bend their weakened backbones in any direction the
cultural revolutionaries wish.
One
of my atheist friends agrees with me on our loss of freedom. Denying freedom’s
God, he‘s with Chesterton on the doctrine (the beliefs) of revolutions. He
knows that progressives don’t like America because they do like things that
America has never stood for.
Roger Hines
7/2/22
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