Anyone who is involved in the LIFE business can look back and think how much richer they are for learning the principles of Freedom, Family, and Faith. Just having the ability to learn history has made all of our lives fuller in each of the 8 F’s. But, is it enough to just learn? We seem to be in a period of our history where people are becoming complacent, content, and are not trying to help anyone else by sharing the very information that has made a difference in their lives. I think back about the famous Roman politician and orator, Cicero, and how he fought to preserve the republic in its waning days even though he knew there was no likelihood of restoring the lost freedoms. We have the opportunity to do our share in the spreading of information that will make those who stood up for the principles of freedom proud. How will we respond?
We see turmoil in economics, finances, and politics. Lack of understanding of these subjects effects our lives. These are symptoms of a clash of new revisionist ideologies against the traditions of our foundations. An example of one of the new social engineers was John Maynard Keynes who felt it was possible to improve people’s lives by manipulating economics through government policies and central banking. As people have grown to rely on government for the solutions to their problems, we witness trends toward dependency instead of taking responsibility to solve the problems. Is it the governments responsibility to teach us to read and learn about the foundations of freedom?
For example, one of the basic foundations of a free society has always been the family. Cicero thought, "The family is the earliest teacher of virtues and character and the primary educator of citizens." Just a small tweak in the understanding of what a family is could shake our foundations. In the words of Cicero, “The family was the nursery of the commonwealth.” I’m proud of the Policy Counsel members, (Orrin Woodward, Chris Brady, Tim Marks, Bill Lewis, Claude Hamilton, Dan Hawkins) for making faith and family staples of the LIFE business. They stay in line with our countries founders like Benjamin Franklin who said, “The married state is, after all our jokes, the happiest, being comfortable to our natures. Man and Woman have each of them qualities and tempers in which the other is deficient, and which in union contribute to the common felicity. Single and separate they are not the complete human being; they are like the odd halves of scissors; they cannot answer the end of their formation.”
Those who subscribe to LIFE have an opportunity to learn but more compelling is the opportunity to share. The needs of a community can be met when these principles are saved. Does anyone see a growing trend toward apathy or hopelessness? The LIFE community can fill that void. How will those who fought for our freedoms look back at us? Will they cry and think that we have taken the gift of freedom for granted? I wonder if they are looking down at us wondering if we are smart enough to recognize politicians who offer benefits for votes, or the media propaganda machine who provide uninterrupted news so we will know what to think about? Maybe it’s the mindless, uneducated, late night comedians who influence our views about morals all done under the umbrella of free press? Does all this clutter drown out the voices of the past? Where are the Cicero’s of today? Who will be the orators to preserve the foundations of freedom we have received?
Are our foundational principles disappearing? President Reagan said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” How important is it to pass on the information for future generations? In the struggle for those principles, George Washington can be heard, “You have done all I asked you do, and more than could be reasonably expected. But your country is at stake, your wives, your homes and all that you hold dear. You have worn yourselves out with fatigues and hardships, but we know not how to spare you. If you consent to stay only one month longer, you will render that service to the cause of liberty and to your country which you probably never can do under any other circumstance.” Today, we have no fear of starvation or an opposing army marching into your town, just the gradual eroding of our countries roots. But, let me ask you this, “Will you take the challenge?” After the April convention in Ohio, will we be ‘Resolved’? Do you hear the cries from the past? God Bless, George Guzzardo
