Thursday, March 5, 2009

Freedom Friday 03.06.09



Are you totally creeped out by my logo? Allow me to explain.

It was designed by Glenn Beck and is based on one of the earliest political cartoons by Benjamin Franklin. Mr. Franklin was making a point about colonial unity. Glenn's logo makes a point about the unity of the American people.

Glenn has spent several years studying and reading our founding fathers and has proposed nine basic principles that our founders embraced and that most of us today can agree on. The point is in this day and age we have strayed so far from what our founders intended. They fought for and died for these principles. We argue today about politics, Democrat v. Republican, left v. right, conservative v. liberal. There are two extremes and they are vocal but Glenn believes, and I do too, that MOST of the country doesn't care about how you label your politics. MOST of us care more about the principles that you live by. We CAN quit fighting and unite around these principles.

The first of these principles is that America is good.

There has been so much divisiveness in politics in recent years, it should come as no surprise that America's image is somewhat tainted. After all, you can't keep calling our President (Bush) evil and then expect everyone to believe America is great. In the era of Blame America First, we need to remember that America is good. Have we done things that tarnish our reputation? You betcha. But the government is only as good and honest as the people who elect it. Samuel Adams said "He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man...The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy this gift of Heaven, let us become a virtuous people."

Virtue. Moral excellence.

I challenge you to promote the virtue of America by first living virtuously in your own life.

Say what you mean and mean what you say.

Do the right thing.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Then I challenge you, as far as your influence extends, do not suffer anyone to be chosen into any office of power and trust who does not also live virtuously. Our reputation depends on it.

2 comments:

Amber said...

You're right. That logo is a bit creepy.

Good words, Lis.

Unknown said...

You need to watch the John Adams HBO miniseries (Paul Giamatti & Laura Linney.) Not only is it very good, but this is the logo they use at the beginning of every episode. But be warned -- after watching them, I came down with a girl crush on George Washington.