Those Who Fought Shine for Us the Way Forward
It’s easy to get distracted and discouraged in light of the chaos, uncertainty, and destruction of our core American values that we’re seeing played out in the news every day. But often times the best solution is not to focus on the details, but to begin with the big picture. This weekend we have a chance to do just that as we celebrate Memorial Day.
The history of this national holiday is rich and takes us right back into the heart of why we are Americans. Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War (which ended in 1865) and a desire to honor our dead. Ironically, more than ever before, this war and the president who so perfectly epitomizes the American spirit, holds the key to the resolve we need right now in 2022!
Just like in Abraham Lincoln’s day, America is at a crossroads. This is a test of our resolve as Americans. As Lincoln said in his brief but enduringly powerful Gettysburg Address, “Now we are engaged in a great civil war testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.” So, what was Lincoln’s inspiration that saved the fragile, and most unique nation ever conceived?...
It was the Declaration of Independence... not the US Constitution. Why? Because it captures our enduring national VALUES—which were the genesis of all the later balances and compromises to be worked out in establishing our government system (imperfect, but still the greatest charter ever formed to govern a nation based on liberty and justice for all).
Watch this fantastic PragerU five-minute video, How Lincoln Changed the World in Two Minutes.
Lincoln’s assertion was two-fold. First, the United States is unique. No nation was ever founded on a commitment to liberty and equality. And the Civil War was a trial to see if a nation based on such lofty ideals could survive. Read Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address anew, and see how it resonates today. (bolded for current emphasis)
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Today, let’s keep these unique AMERICAN VALUES central as We The People, AND our elected officials work together to order our current system. We can and must Memorialize the big picture—this unique America, and all those who’ve understood how rare and worthy the American prize truly is, enough to pay the ultimate price for.