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No greater love (dying for a greater cause)
“Liberty and Freedom”
I think many people today believe that being a Patriot, means paying your taxes, voting, waving a flag, and following your government leaders. Webster simply tells us that it is: “love for or devotion to one's country”.
I think “most” Americans have no problem with that statement. I can honestly say that I love this country and I am devoted to it. But, for me, more importantly, I have a love and devotion to God, first and foremost. Just as I believe many of our forefathers also did as it was their reverence for the Lord that led them to inaugurate the two most significant passages of our guidelines in the birth of this building this Nation.
“Liberty and Freedom”.
Two words that sum up everything that our forefathers knew we must stand for. They believed, with all their heart, that “liberty” is our Right, and that “Freedom” is our ability to exercise and pursue that Right.
This concept was instilled in them by the teachings of the Bible, that our forefather’s believed with all of their heart, and they fully relied on it. They used our Holy Bible as the moral compass in designing our Declarations of Independence and our Constitution. I sincerely believe these guys are the epitome of what a “Patriot” is, and have lived the purest forms of patriotism.
Are you willing to DIE for your country?
Mark Twain was quoted as saying…“Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide against your conviction is to be an unqualified and excusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let me label you as they may.”
You see, for me to not include God as part of my decision making on what is right and wrong would go against all my convictions. Standing up for my conservative values is the personification of what I know in my heart is right for this country.
I sometimes find it awkward to use the word “Patriot” in the same breath that was intended for our forefathers. My life has been so easy. I have not had to sacrifice anything remotely close as did these guys. I want to believe that I am, somewhat patriotic, in a modern fashion of the word.
The question is, am I willing to die for such causes? I don’t think our country has sunk that low YET, but if a time ever comes where my families lives were to be in danger by the lack of principals which I believed is crucially needed to keep this country’s liberty and freedoms secure, I certainly do believe that I would arise for such an occasion.
The Bibles tells us that there is no greater love, for one to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. I most certainly believe I would, with out a doubt, lay down my life to ensure those liberties and freedoms.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction"
I once heard a quote and it went like this:
“To me, patriotism means dedication to the principles on which the country was founded and a willingness to stand firm and fight for these principles regardless of what the government says or does”
and of course Ronald Reagan sums up my hub with these wise words:
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."
No greater love
I sometimes think too many of us today have forgotten or simply not ever taken to heart of just how many real Patriots have died for us. Starting with those 55 signers of our Declarations of Independence, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, WWI, WWII and the conflicts we faced since.
Just stop and think of the hundreds of thousand, men and women who were devoted to our our Country. The American citizens who stood up with conviction, to make a difference, for the betterment of this nation.
We have so many people today, who have no clue or understanding as to that devoutness that enables you to put away selfish needs and put themselves in the line of danger. To stand for a cause and a reason other than themselves.
We all need to reflect, and come to a realization that a day may come when it will be our turn to be a Patriot. For I think there is no greater love, than to die for a greater cause.
Comments
Many of us made that decision a long time ago in Vietnam, CM.
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Diamond, first of all, I certainly have nothing but the utmost respect for those who serve our military. I admire those of you who made that decision and many who carried out on it. I think many of us simply take it for granted, the patriots, such as yourself. I have a son who is in the military, and he too to an oath, to be such a person. I was just wondering how many really, really think about what it truly means to be a Patriot.
Thanks Diamond for stopping by and commenting.
Nice hub CM. For some of us, we have ourselves answered the question but some others, their time has not yet come. I think people would be surprised at the "patriot" within themselves. And in my thinking, God is always first and foremost. It is God's blessing we seek when we seek to protect the principles and values on which we built this country.
Nice work!
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Thanks pcoach, I have said before, and I still wish at times, I would have served in our Military.
AWESOME!!! I love every word! While we don't know what the future holds, I believe it is vital that we have our hearts and minds set on responding with courage when courage is called for. I believe you posess this attribute in abundance!
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Fred, that truly means a lot to me, and I deeply appreciate your remarks.
There have been times in my life when I asked myself the same thing while in service to my country. It was not my wish but in the final conclusion I decided that I was no better than any other man and if that was my fate then I would accept it. My father spilled his blood at Normandy in a fight that was a struggle for world domination. The least I could do was be willing to do as much as he did for my country. I share your views on including the references to God in the shaping of our great republic. That is the true story and that is the only way it should be told. There are those among us who want to change history and shape it to fit the ideals that espouse. They are quick to praise Islam and reflect on all the flaws of Christianity. The fact of the matter is this country was founded on the basis of Christian beliefs and that fact should stand the passage of time and never be forgotten. Others are free to bring their religion with them to America but only on the basis that they are willing to first and foremost assimilate into the American culture rather than ask the culture to be changed for them. I don't want to wake up one morning and hear that Allah was a close advisor to the Founding Fathers...that's nothing but propaganda to fill young minds! Thanks for a nice piece of writing! WB
Aye God comes first, yet in the darkest hours of life, as we prepare for death in a bad situation, he strengthens our resolve to fight for life, he removes the pain from wounds that we might carry on in our task, until victory or death it was written from the beginning of time and so it shall be. Doubt yourself not for if you are with him he is with you. I've a story to tell and perhaps one day I will, Peace and Gods love, 50
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Wayne,
Thanks for your support, I really do believe there are way more folks like us, who do know the truth about God and our Country. It is that loudmouth minority of non-believers who seem to carry some clout with the MSM that causes the problmes...Thanks again for your service to our Country.
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50, I always look forward to hearing your thoughts and really appreciate them too.
Amen! You are indeed a true American patriot. God Bless You!
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Thanks James :)
I agree with you 100% CMerrit. I don't think we're critical YET, but we are on the precipice and we must remain vigilant.
Voted up!
Thank you for such a stirring Hub!
Carol
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Carol, I realy appreciate your comments and for following me.
I hate to be a dissenting opinion here but I guess I feel obligated to offer my two cents given that American Patriotism appears to be linked to belief in a Christian God. Clearly, I think the two are independent concepts. You can be one or the other or both or neither.
For me, I am not a Christian and am a moderate, but after ROTC, I volunteered for Vietnam, got caught in the downsizing after the war, and joined the Army National Guard for the next 20 or so years. At the same time, I served my country as a career civil servant with the Air Force mostly in and around the Pentagon until I retired. Obviously, I feel no less a patriot and have spent most of my life working in areas related to keeping America safe and it had nothing to do with a belief in God. I am spiritual, however, and know there is power beyond my comprehension. You can't look up into the night sky and not know this. My belief doesn't take the form that any of the monotheistic religions have devised.
A few brief comments on some points you made; it was, by the way, a very well written piece and clearly heartfelt. I liked it very much. You are certainly correct in saying that the Colonies and the States were Christian based. You look in any of their founding documents and there are abundent references to God, the Bible, and Christian (Prodestant) faith. (It wasn't good to be a Catholic in all but a couple of the States in those days, you weren't treated very well.) But it is a different story when you get to the U.S. Constitution.
Many, maybe a majority, of our famous founding fathers and movers and shakers were actually not Christians. They certainly believed in a monotheistic God, but, as was becoming popular then, they leaned more toward Deism. I am talking about Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, James Madison, Thomas Paine, etc. As a group, they were very careful when constructing the Constitution to leave out all reference to God, Christianity, and the Bible; something unheard of until that document. Even one of the most devout Christian of the Fathers, John Adams, insisted this be so because, according to his biography, he feared the havoc zealots would wreck upon this new Nation. In direct opposition to part of Wayne's comment above, if the Founders wanted the culture of this nation to be a Christian culture, then they would have written that into the Constitution just as all of the documents of the Colonies and the States did. They didn't do that. Instead, they put a period on their point by making Freedom of Religion as part of the 1st Amendment of the Bill of Rights.
A final point deals with the advent of Liberity and Freedom. Its source, as it relates to being in the Constitution, is from other works and ideas in philosophy going back to John Locke and others that I am studying at the moment.
I applaud you on your patriatism and beliefs and give you the greatest respect and honor for having them. But please understand that the reason I am so willingly patriotic to this country is because of the foresight and wisdon our Founding Fathers built into a Constitution that created an American Nation and not a Christian American Nation.
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My Esoteric,
First of all, I deeply appreciate you stopping by to leave your opinion on this topic. I choose to follow you because of your ability to express your opinions with such class and clarity.
I certainly did not imply that a person could not be a patriot if they were not a “religious” person. My point was more that our forefathers, who are the epitome of Patriots, held the Holy Bible as a moral compass in designing our Constitution.
The main point that I want to stress, in my opinion that as a being a citizen of this Country, we accept the Constitution as it is written. All of our forefathers declared we are subject to the laws of our Creator. The words “The Law of Nature”, WAS used purposely in our Declaration of Independence. They knew in the hearts, that it was the reference of the God of Abraham, as taught in the Holy Bible. It was His law that was the basis for justice.
Now, with all of that said, I am a Christian, so I find this very easy to believe and accept. I understand we have many wonderful people who are not Christian and patriots. So, making this connection may seem unfair to them. But, I think there are enough facts to support my beliefs, enough that I feel it is important to stand up for, as I believe or forefathers did.
Thanks for you generous comments, I really do take it to heart and appreciate them.
CMerritt, thank you for your kind words and understanding of what I am trying to say. I strive to meet your discritption of my writing and sometime, on my better days, I hope to come close to achieving it. Let me, if you will, respond to one thing you say, and put off another to a hub, because it is quite interesting.
I think the writers of the Constitution chose the more general term Creator on purpose, as opposed to more specific references to God. By using Creator, which granted appears often in the Bible many times, (BTW, I read it twice when I was young) it allows people to interpret as it fits them. The word fits fine with my conception of things and has one perfectly valid meaning. Clearly, it fits equally well with yours and has the more traditional meaning. I truly believe if they wanted to leave no doubt as to what they were talking about, they would have chosen God over Creator.
As to the "Law of Nature". That has a rich history Locke, Humme, Spinoza, Descarte, Saint Augustine, and earlier, I think. I will pull my notes together and summarize it in a Hub. It would be part of the philosophical tresties I want to try to accomplish before I die (or at least see how far I get anyway; procrastination is one of my many failings.)
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My Esoteric,
I think they wanted to be clear though NOT to relinquish powers and authority as it was in England, where the Church was abusing it's authorities over it's people.
But, when I go back and read what many of our forefathers wrote, it only confirms my thoughts and beliefs.
When I read quotes as such:
"The worship of God is a duty...Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature… I never doubted the existence of the Deity, that he made the world, and governed it by His Providence...The pleasures of this world are rather from God's goodness than our own merit... Whoever shall introduce into the public affairs the principles of primitive (essential) Christianity will change the face of the world... Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." - Benjamin Franklin
and when President John Adams said - "From the day of the Declaration . . .they [the American people] were bound by the laws of God, which they all, and by the laws of the Gospel, which they nearly all, acknowledge as the rules of their conduct."
And,
"From the day of the Declaration . . .they [the American people] were bound by the laws of God, which they all, and by the laws of the Gospel, which they nearly all, acknowledge as the rules of their conduct."
and I can go on and on. But it is quite clear to me what was on their heart and the intent of the importance of God is to keeping this Nation, Great.
With all of this said, I look very much forward to your summarizaton of the meaning and intent of the "law of nature".
I too am guilty of procrastination...
:)
My Esoteric: Hummmm. . . Dare I let the thought enter into my mind that there are individuals out there who actually have a world view and perspectives that parallel my own?
I've read your commentary and dialog with CM and you have piqued my curiosity.
I look forward to reading your contributions here. . . Well stated and logical.
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It is of my opinion, the two of you are both, of the same mold. I mean that as a compliment too.
Nice work! Gave me a chill. I don't relish the idea but I would stand in the gap without hesitation.
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Thanks CJ, I think there are more of us that would step up if and when that time may ever happen.
I appreaciate you stopping by and commenting.
Great post CMerritt! A patriot is loyal to God and truth first. If this is what we hold dear, the rest should fall in line. We should be patriotic to ideals. The leaders of countries and our America can lead us and the world astray. We have to value the values. I will obey God and as in the US Marine Corps- Semper Fi! God bless!
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Thanks Mick, and that was very well said, we have to value the values.
We all hope and pray that we would answer the call for God, Family and Country...I believe that "for such a time as this" we are called, more than ever to remember why our knees bend...The more time we spend there, whether physically or at the very least spiritually, the less likely we will need to battle evil in the flesh...
Great Hub! Up-Useful-Awesome...
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Thanks Mitch...I totally agree that we, more so than ever, need to be on our knees, asking for our Lords guidence.
I appreciate your comments.
I'm with you, CMerritt, on wishing I'd served in the military too sometimes. I'd been good for it at one point - before I got too rebellious.
I'm rather fond of the nation - but not what seems to be it's current destination.
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WTS, I really appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment. I too, am very concerned on the current path it seems to be going down.
CM what a great hub, I have never read this and sorry I missed it, I loved the last paragraph, Excellent!
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Thanks AR! I appreciate your support and comments.
Again, absolutely right!!
I believe that a lot of this country's issues comes from taking God out of the equation. They've taken God out of the courts, schools, and now they want to take "In God We Trust" off of our currency. I don't know if it is the government that wants the power religion once had or what. But it seems that no one nowadays has any couth or respect for their selves or anyone else for that matter anymore.
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I agree with you daskittlez, I always like the quote from Reagan saying if we ever quit being one Nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.
I think there is a lot of truth to that statement....
Thanks for stopping by.
I like this 1789 quote from George Washington regarding the link between Christianity and patriotism;
"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of man and citizens."-Regards and Blessings-WBA
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wba,
I appreciate your input and words. Also for you being kind enough to read my hub.
Chris
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