I've been meaning to write another post as my first post but found this quote while reading The Hidden Enemy by Michael Youssef. I will work on trying to post more with a few things that have been running through my head, but Steemit is most definitely a hobby for me at this time.
This is a quote from Abraham Lincoln's Lyceum Address, I extracted it from here: http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/lyceum.htm
Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never!--All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.
At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.
This struck me as odd, and I re-read it a few times, thinking over it. Somewhere deep in my mind, pieces started clicking together like a puzzle, seeing ties with other things. First with the changing culture around me here in the U.S.A. Then (especially after a recent viewing of the movie adaptation) George Orwell's 1984. And a much larger picture started to appear.
Abraham Lincon, indirectly, but likely with a knowledge of human behavior, predicted what we are seeing today in America.
People turning away from their God granted rights, asking the government to take them and make their decisions for them. Handing more and more power to a government that was never meant to be so big. Rallying with their... Comrades... (I shudder using that term after reading 1984, what it was used to do...) and shouting down anyone who disagrees with them. And if there be a politician, or public figure, that wants to leave decisions to the smallest group possible, respecting the freedoms that are outlined in our Constitution and her amendments, they are immediately attacked with even the slightest hint of some form of scandal, anything to prevent them from taking public office.
On that note... We have come to a point where if we wish to return to the freedoms of the past, we must first put people into power, just to do so. And we are trusting their word that they will follow through and essentially cripple the position we are putting them in. That is horrific.
Back to President Lincon. One thing that hits home to me is the recent attacks on the electoral college. A system designed to prevent true democracy and the mob rule that comes with it. I've heard conversations that say that the popular vote should overrule the electoral college. Whoever wins 50% or more should win the election is what I hear the most. If that were the standard the public vote would not even have put Lincon in office as he only won ~40% of the popular vote. I think most people would not be comfortable with that uncertainty.
This is just one of many different things I see people fighting about in our modern political atmosphere, but so much of it is people essentially seeming to hate the foundation and founding values of this great nation. Which if they continue to push, and especially if that idea continues to spread. America will quickly fall from within and the country collapses into the second civil war, and likely the suicide of the greatest nation. Could she recover from there? Possibly, but with so many foregin adversaries on their haunches ready to pounce, I doubt it. I shudder that that day may stand in my future.
These are just my thoughts, if you have any, please feel free to share.
Have a great day. And God bless.
