Oh Beautiful for spacious skies,
For Amber waves of grain,
For purple Mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee!
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
Thank God for America. Thank God for the land of the free and the home of the brave. God has been abundantly good to us. America has been singularly the greatest country ever on the face of the earth. America has a rich heritage dating all the way back to the earliest colonial settlers in Jamestown, Virginia. Recently I've made statements concerning the two things that I believe has made America a very unique country. There are two things that I attribute to America being the greatest country on earth. Those two are (1) the Biblical foundation that America was founded upon, and (2) the entrepreneurial spirit. Those two attributes are what has made America a great and unique country. Our early Pilgrim and Puritan forefathers came to America for religious freedom. They came to America to establish their own colony and to worship God as they saw fit. They didn't want to be a part of a state religion. That's why they left England. They made huge sacrifices on behalf of their family so they could sail to unknown territory to establish a colony and within that colony a church so their family would have a place to worship. That's something that would be considered breathtaking to many people in this generation. How many people today would pack all their belongings and travel to another country so they could worship God according to their conscience? Not many. Even though our Puritan forefathers weren't perfect, they had their priorities in order concerning Godly things. They knew there was a holy God in Heaven who was just and perfect. God wasn't a byword to them nor just somebody they could call upon when their world was crumbling. God was more to them than someone who was just a call away. God was life to them. That doesn't mean they were Biblically correct in all the doctrine they preached and taught. The Puritans taught some doctrines that I believe were unscriptural. However, God was more than just an afterthought to them, which is in contrast to most churches and religious people today.
Throughout the decades, other Christians came to America for the purpose to worship God. God sent a revival to this nation twice in the eighteenth century. They were the First and Second Great Awakening. Many people were converted and as a result the atmosphere and culture changed in America. Saloons would shut their doors because of the work God was doing in the hearts and lives of people. Also, many of the U.S.'s early laws were based upon the Bible. America was built upon a very strong religious foundation. God blessed our early forefathers for their faithfulness to God in spite of their not always being Biblically correct in all their doctrine.
The other attribute that made America great was the entrepreneurial spirit that created the free enterprise system in America. The government in early America recognized that an economic system isn't built upon government programs and government handouts. They also recognized you don't build an economy by the redistribution of wealth. There wasn't class envy in early America, to my knowledge. Today all you hear from our politicians and the news media is the rich aren't paying their fair share of taxes. America's political leaders knew that wealth was created by rich people. Wealth wasn't created by the government nor poor people. As a result of government not interfering with the daily affairs of business, the free enterprise system prospered beyond imagination. Within 150 years following the signing of the Declaration of Independence, America went from being an agrarian nation to an industrial nation. It was due to men of talent using their talents to start a business and inventing new inventions which caused them to become wealthy. Some of America's early entrepreneurs were the pioneers of the free enterprise system such as Eli Whitney who invented the cotton gin, J.D. Rockefeller who developed and built America's oil industry, and Andrew Carnegie who developed the steel industry. I will admit that some of these industrial tycoons exploited the capitalist system to create monopolies and had used their money to influence and buy off the federal government. Even though there are excesses to capitalism, it's still one of the greatest economic systems in America. Capitalism allows man to explore, create, and innovate. It also allows the market to determine whether or not a product will be successful or fail. It depends upon what the population-at-large desires. The factors of production are determined by the free market system; not the government. Beginning with the Great Depression, government has placed a stranglehold on business and has made it difficult for a small- or medium-sized business to operate successfully. The government's philosophy of business today is in anathema to the Founders' philosophy of business. It's the talent and ingenuity of entrepreneurs that builds the free enterprise system.
Last time in May when I wrote the first portion to this post, I was explaining some of the reasons why parents should teach their children American history. I was stating that parents need to instill patriotism and a love of country in their children. They can't do so if they don't mention what's good about America. Children need to recognize that all the conveniences and gadgets we possess today is fairly recent. America hasn't always enjoyed the prosperity we enjoy today. There was a time when people had to travel by foot or horse. It's only been a century since Americans started purchasing automobiles. We need to teach children to appreciate what America has produced over the course of 404 years. The opportunities we enjoy today weren't always available in American history. There are people who sacrificed in generations past so future generations can enjoy the benefits previous generations never were able to be a part of.
Another reason why it's important for parents to teach their children American history is because the freedoms we enjoy today are blood-bought and blood-fought. When you read the Constitution and read the first ten amendments to the Constitution it's imperative that young people recognize our forefathers had to fight for those rights. They fought for them on the battlefield during America's war for Independence. Soldiers in future generations fought to maintain our freedoms during the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean, Vietnam, the two Gulf Wars and the War in Afghanistan. Freedom is costly. Vigilance also carries a price. There are those who despise what America has in the way of freedom and they're attacking our freedoms on a daily basis. It's important for young people to recognize that our freedom was fought for by those soldiers who left their homes to fight for freedom's cause. That's why we possess the freedom to speak what's on our mind, the freedom to assemble, to petition, and to protest, etc. Another sacred freedom is the right to vote. It's pathetic the perecentage of the voter turnout in many elections today. The last few generations of Americans have become apathetic and don't understand the significance of voting. That's why it's crucial to teach our young people the importance of voting and civic duty. A price was paid by our forefathers so we can vote and participate in government. If we don't seize the opportunity to vote and become politically involved, there will come a day when we won't have the privilege to vote or speak against the actions of our government.
Lastly, it's important to teach young people American history because they are the future leaders of our country. They need to know what America symbolizes. They need to know the American system and how it operates. They need to know the religious, social, cultural, and economic history of our country. Students need to be immersed in American history. If students don't learn their history, how will they be able to run a business or lead the nation politically if they don't know the history nor background of this nation? One of the handicaps for many of our political leaders today, including President Obama is they don't have an undestanding of America's history. They don't understand what the American dream represents. The last president who had a full understanding of the American dream was the late president Ronald Reagan. He not only knew what the American dream symbolized but he was able to articulate it to the American people. Listen to his stirring Farewell Address from 1989. He knew what America was about. He understood the kind of country our early forefathers built. Even though Reagan made mistakes as president, you knew he loved America and had a profound understanding of the American dream. All presidents since Ronald Reagan have been globalist-minded. They were too busy trying to sound politically correct instead of defending America's great heritage.
If we don't teach our young people America history today, then we're going to lose this country before too long. We're raising a generation of young people that don't know their history or what defines America's greatness. If we adults don't steer our children in the right direction and bring them back to America's roots, we will have a country before too long that won't recognize the America my grandparents knew. Children need to be well-educated on America history and its great institutions. They need to be taught that they have a reason to be proud of America. I'm thankful for the efforts of Glenn Beck and the 9/12 Project in the last couple of years playing their role in teaching American history both to adults and children. I'm thankful for all the events that are used to teach children about America's heritage. There are several parents involved in teaching children about America's history through Vacation Liberty School, which is an offshoot of the 9/12 Project. If there's ever a turnaround or a second revolution in America, it will be due somewhat to the efforts of Glenn Beck and the 9/12 Project. Parents have the responsibility to teach and inculcate an appreciation for American history to their children. Christian parents need to lead the way in this massive endeavor. I want to thank all those (such as David Barton and Glenn Beck to name a few) that have involved themselves in the last few decades in educating the American people about our history.
America the Beautiful
Kentucky 9/12 Resident Lisa Abler on the Glenn Beck Program
Vacation Liberty School
Reagan's Final Address
Throughout the decades, other Christians came to America for the purpose to worship God. God sent a revival to this nation twice in the eighteenth century. They were the First and Second Great Awakening. Many people were converted and as a result the atmosphere and culture changed in America. Saloons would shut their doors because of the work God was doing in the hearts and lives of people. Also, many of the U.S.'s early laws were based upon the Bible. America was built upon a very strong religious foundation. God blessed our early forefathers for their faithfulness to God in spite of their not always being Biblically correct in all their doctrine.
The other attribute that made America great was the entrepreneurial spirit that created the free enterprise system in America. The government in early America recognized that an economic system isn't built upon government programs and government handouts. They also recognized you don't build an economy by the redistribution of wealth. There wasn't class envy in early America, to my knowledge. Today all you hear from our politicians and the news media is the rich aren't paying their fair share of taxes. America's political leaders knew that wealth was created by rich people. Wealth wasn't created by the government nor poor people. As a result of government not interfering with the daily affairs of business, the free enterprise system prospered beyond imagination. Within 150 years following the signing of the Declaration of Independence, America went from being an agrarian nation to an industrial nation. It was due to men of talent using their talents to start a business and inventing new inventions which caused them to become wealthy. Some of America's early entrepreneurs were the pioneers of the free enterprise system such as Eli Whitney who invented the cotton gin, J.D. Rockefeller who developed and built America's oil industry, and Andrew Carnegie who developed the steel industry. I will admit that some of these industrial tycoons exploited the capitalist system to create monopolies and had used their money to influence and buy off the federal government. Even though there are excesses to capitalism, it's still one of the greatest economic systems in America. Capitalism allows man to explore, create, and innovate. It also allows the market to determine whether or not a product will be successful or fail. It depends upon what the population-at-large desires. The factors of production are determined by the free market system; not the government. Beginning with the Great Depression, government has placed a stranglehold on business and has made it difficult for a small- or medium-sized business to operate successfully. The government's philosophy of business today is in anathema to the Founders' philosophy of business. It's the talent and ingenuity of entrepreneurs that builds the free enterprise system.
Last time in May when I wrote the first portion to this post, I was explaining some of the reasons why parents should teach their children American history. I was stating that parents need to instill patriotism and a love of country in their children. They can't do so if they don't mention what's good about America. Children need to recognize that all the conveniences and gadgets we possess today is fairly recent. America hasn't always enjoyed the prosperity we enjoy today. There was a time when people had to travel by foot or horse. It's only been a century since Americans started purchasing automobiles. We need to teach children to appreciate what America has produced over the course of 404 years. The opportunities we enjoy today weren't always available in American history. There are people who sacrificed in generations past so future generations can enjoy the benefits previous generations never were able to be a part of.
Another reason why it's important for parents to teach their children American history is because the freedoms we enjoy today are blood-bought and blood-fought. When you read the Constitution and read the first ten amendments to the Constitution it's imperative that young people recognize our forefathers had to fight for those rights. They fought for them on the battlefield during America's war for Independence. Soldiers in future generations fought to maintain our freedoms during the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean, Vietnam, the two Gulf Wars and the War in Afghanistan. Freedom is costly. Vigilance also carries a price. There are those who despise what America has in the way of freedom and they're attacking our freedoms on a daily basis. It's important for young people to recognize that our freedom was fought for by those soldiers who left their homes to fight for freedom's cause. That's why we possess the freedom to speak what's on our mind, the freedom to assemble, to petition, and to protest, etc. Another sacred freedom is the right to vote. It's pathetic the perecentage of the voter turnout in many elections today. The last few generations of Americans have become apathetic and don't understand the significance of voting. That's why it's crucial to teach our young people the importance of voting and civic duty. A price was paid by our forefathers so we can vote and participate in government. If we don't seize the opportunity to vote and become politically involved, there will come a day when we won't have the privilege to vote or speak against the actions of our government.
Lastly, it's important to teach young people American history because they are the future leaders of our country. They need to know what America symbolizes. They need to know the American system and how it operates. They need to know the religious, social, cultural, and economic history of our country. Students need to be immersed in American history. If students don't learn their history, how will they be able to run a business or lead the nation politically if they don't know the history nor background of this nation? One of the handicaps for many of our political leaders today, including President Obama is they don't have an undestanding of America's history. They don't understand what the American dream represents. The last president who had a full understanding of the American dream was the late president Ronald Reagan. He not only knew what the American dream symbolized but he was able to articulate it to the American people. Listen to his stirring Farewell Address from 1989. He knew what America was about. He understood the kind of country our early forefathers built. Even though Reagan made mistakes as president, you knew he loved America and had a profound understanding of the American dream. All presidents since Ronald Reagan have been globalist-minded. They were too busy trying to sound politically correct instead of defending America's great heritage.
If we don't teach our young people America history today, then we're going to lose this country before too long. We're raising a generation of young people that don't know their history or what defines America's greatness. If we adults don't steer our children in the right direction and bring them back to America's roots, we will have a country before too long that won't recognize the America my grandparents knew. Children need to be well-educated on America history and its great institutions. They need to be taught that they have a reason to be proud of America. I'm thankful for the efforts of Glenn Beck and the 9/12 Project in the last couple of years playing their role in teaching American history both to adults and children. I'm thankful for all the events that are used to teach children about America's heritage. There are several parents involved in teaching children about America's history through Vacation Liberty School, which is an offshoot of the 9/12 Project. If there's ever a turnaround or a second revolution in America, it will be due somewhat to the efforts of Glenn Beck and the 9/12 Project. Parents have the responsibility to teach and inculcate an appreciation for American history to their children. Christian parents need to lead the way in this massive endeavor. I want to thank all those (such as David Barton and Glenn Beck to name a few) that have involved themselves in the last few decades in educating the American people about our history.
America the Beautiful
Kentucky 9/12 Resident Lisa Abler on the Glenn Beck Program
Vacation Liberty School
Reagan's Final Address
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