VIEWPOINT / Linda J. O’Brien / Russell Township
American Exceptionalism
When we say that America is “exceptional” we are not bragging; we are stating a fact.
In 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville traveled to America to see how the country had become the most successful nation in history. He credited this success on the fact that America’s policies and institutions were based on a unique set of ideas — ideas originating from faith and virtue.
Tocqueville credited America’s exceptionalism to its unprecedented stability, prosperity and liberty. He is known for what we call the “golden triangle,” which has faith and virtue as its two foundation corners rising up to create freedom at the pinnacle. The two cornerstones — faith and virtue — are the basis for our founding documents, The Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights. The philosophy — the idea — of America’s government is based on the Bible.
The three headed eagle of Madison’s Bill of Rights originates in Isaiah 33:22.
Of the 56 signers of the Constitution 29 were pastors. Only two, Jefferson and Franklin, may have been deist, or someone who believes there is a God responsible for creation yet who is not involved directly in the creation.
Yet, today, our Founders are portrayed not as men of virtue but rather as racists and womanizers. The fact is that 70 percent of the signers were abolitionists — against slavery, and of the 15 who had slaves many of them wanted and granted them freedom. Yet, our Founders aren’t credited with their sacrifice but rather are portrayed as evil slave masters.
Today “deconstructionism” is being driven by those who want God out of government, education and the home. If you remove God — Faith — and the virtues that come from it, we will lose our stability which will erode our prosperity and ultimately eliminate liberty.
Today we hear newscasters and politicians refer to America as a Democracy. America is a Republic and we should stand strong to correct those who refer to it incorrectly. Our Founders knew that Democracy is the worst form of government and they warned against it. Democracy leads to Socialism, to Communism and ultimately to tyrannical rule – chains not liberty.
Deconstructionism focuses only the negative. It breaks up the “whole” into adversarial groups — white vs black, Democrats vs. Republicans, male vs. female and heterosexual vs. homosexual, etc. What does this tearing apart accomplish? “E Pluribus Unum” is America’s motto and it stands for “out of many one.” Deconstructionism tears the one into many. Ben Franklin warned the Colonists that they must “unit or die;” we are becoming a divided country not a united one.
History is being rewritten in many ways. One of the most destructive is that all references to God are being wiped out and replaced with . . . Quotes of Patrick Henry, George Washington and others now eliminate reference to God and eliminate firsthand accounts — people who knew them for who and what they were. Their faith and virtues are being replaced with three dots.
We must remember first and foremost that we are Americans — not hyphenated Americans but Americans founded on the principles and philosophies stated in America’s founding documents. Religion and morality are indispensable supports — if the cornerstones are eliminated liberty will fall.
America has stood strong for 235 years. During this time, France has had 15 constitutions and many bloody rebellions. We cannot allow that to happen here. Stand up to deconstructionism and put God front and center to all aspects of your life. John Adams warned us, “liberty once lost is lost forever.”
We must stand in faith to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to make America free; we must live in virtue to keep America fee as we enjoy the gifts of liberty today; and we must commit to leave an exceptional country for all future generations.
