Bonnie Alba
Would George Washington recognize God-deprived America?
By Bonnie Alba
In this month of celebrating presidential birthdays, I wonder how an old speech containing the words of our first president would be received if any post-modern president were to orate them today?
Herein I give you some of the beautiful highlights of Pres. George Washington's Inaugural Address to Congress, April 30, 1789:
"Such being the impressions under which I have, in obedience to the public summons, repaired to the present station, it would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations... that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes;
...In tendering this homage to the Great Author of every public and private good, I assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my own...No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States.
Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency... We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained; ... since He has been pleased to favor the American people with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquillity, and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a form of government for the security of their union and the advancement of their happiness, so His divine blessings may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations and the wise measures on which the success of this Government must depend."
This is our humble beginning. If orated in today's politically divided climate, I believe many Americans would be shocked and outraged by these godly words acknowledging God's Hand in and on our nation.
The wisdom of George Washington in his Farewell Speech on September 19, 1796 shows us how we have already lost our liberty and freedom:
"...The name of AMERICAN, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same Religion, Manners, Habits, and political Principles...Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports....reason and experience both forbid us to expect that National Morality can prevail in Exclusion of Religious Principle."
What and Who Changed America?
If the government and the people reject God and his blessings upon us, what then? Do church pastors discourage the duties and responsibilities of our citizenship? What has happened to our intertwined godly people and government?
Extremist organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State have only diminished our freedom and liberty. They have pursued incremental court suits through the court system where liberal judges have completely ignored history to our detriment. The treasured liberty, freedom and the pursuit of happiness embedded in the Declaration of Independence and implied in the U.S. Constitution has literally been downgraded to secularity.
The ACLU and others continue to pursue their agendas to exclude religious principles and therefore absolute moral considerations from the public arena. In this quest, done in increments so the people will remain complacent, these lawyers and others have pushed religion, specifically Christianity, and therefore, God, into the closet.
It won't be long before they succeed in removing all semblance of Christian-related sculptures, Scriptures and God-related sayings from monuments and buildings, our money and our pledge of Allegiance. They seek an end to any public acknowledgment of the God-Provider of our public welfare and our morality.
What is certain — if George Washington could see our society and government today, he would be stunned that his words have come true — National Morality and Religious Principles no longer govern the hearts and minds of the people.
There is no doubt in my mind that if we do not return to God and a nation built on a people who are moral and virtuous, we will go the way of Rome.
Is there any doubt in your mind?
© Bonnie Alba
February 21, 2011
In this month of celebrating presidential birthdays, I wonder how an old speech containing the words of our first president would be received if any post-modern president were to orate them today?
Herein I give you some of the beautiful highlights of Pres. George Washington's Inaugural Address to Congress, April 30, 1789:
"Such being the impressions under which I have, in obedience to the public summons, repaired to the present station, it would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations... that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes;
...In tendering this homage to the Great Author of every public and private good, I assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my own...No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States.
Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency... We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained; ... since He has been pleased to favor the American people with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquillity, and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a form of government for the security of their union and the advancement of their happiness, so His divine blessings may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations and the wise measures on which the success of this Government must depend."
This is our humble beginning. If orated in today's politically divided climate, I believe many Americans would be shocked and outraged by these godly words acknowledging God's Hand in and on our nation.
The wisdom of George Washington in his Farewell Speech on September 19, 1796 shows us how we have already lost our liberty and freedom:
"...The name of AMERICAN, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same Religion, Manners, Habits, and political Principles...Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports....reason and experience both forbid us to expect that National Morality can prevail in Exclusion of Religious Principle."
What and Who Changed America?
If the government and the people reject God and his blessings upon us, what then? Do church pastors discourage the duties and responsibilities of our citizenship? What has happened to our intertwined godly people and government?
Extremist organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State have only diminished our freedom and liberty. They have pursued incremental court suits through the court system where liberal judges have completely ignored history to our detriment. The treasured liberty, freedom and the pursuit of happiness embedded in the Declaration of Independence and implied in the U.S. Constitution has literally been downgraded to secularity.
The ACLU and others continue to pursue their agendas to exclude religious principles and therefore absolute moral considerations from the public arena. In this quest, done in increments so the people will remain complacent, these lawyers and others have pushed religion, specifically Christianity, and therefore, God, into the closet.
It won't be long before they succeed in removing all semblance of Christian-related sculptures, Scriptures and God-related sayings from monuments and buildings, our money and our pledge of Allegiance. They seek an end to any public acknowledgment of the God-Provider of our public welfare and our morality.
What is certain — if George Washington could see our society and government today, he would be stunned that his words have come true — National Morality and Religious Principles no longer govern the hearts and minds of the people.
There is no doubt in my mind that if we do not return to God and a nation built on a people who are moral and virtuous, we will go the way of Rome.
Is there any doubt in your mind?
© Bonnie Alba
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