Fighting For Freedom - God Bless Our Veterans!

Today we honor those brave men and women who throughout the ages have defended our liberty in the armed services.  Originally today was called “Armistice Day” - in commemoration of the end of hostilities during The Great War (i.e., World War I).  In 1918, at 11:00 on 11/11, the great powers ended the fighting pending the approval of a final peace.  Because of the enormous sacrifices and historical significance of The Great War (many arguing that it would be the war to end all wars), in November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day as follows: 

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

By 1926, the state legislatures of 27 states had officially recognized the day, and Congress passed a concurrent resolution recognizing the day.  in 1938 it became a legal holiday.  After WWII and the Korean War, in 1954 the day was changed to Veterans Day.  For a while the day floated (1968-1974) to create a 3 day weekend, but in 1975 it was returned to November 11.

The purpose of the day is to take time from the hustle and bustle of the day to give solemn remembrance to those who have given so much for our liberty.  Wilson’s original proclamation may have summed it up best:  

“it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations.”

Patriot Week follows this grand tradition today by renewing the spirit of America from 9/11 -9/17.  Check out more at Patriot Week.

God Bless our veterans, and God Bless America.

[photo: Taken at 10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918, this photo reveals soldiers of the US 353rd Infantry in Meuse, France waiting for the Armistice to take hold. ]

Oakland County Pays Tribute to Patriot Week Co-Creators

Last night, the Oakland County Commission paid tribute to my daughter Leah (and me) for establishing Patriot Week.  It was a very humbling event, spearheaded by Commissioner David Potts, and unanimously supported by the entire commission.  The commissioners have been extraordinarily supportive of the effort in many ways, and we very much appreciate their continued bi-partisan support.  Thanks so very much!

Americans Are Unreasonable - Thanks Be to God!

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man." George Bernard Shaw (Man and Superman)

There is no question that Americans are an unreasonable breed.  When the British began to tax us without representation, close down our jury system, and suppress our liberties, we did not adjust.  Instead, we turned the world upside down by declaring independence and winning our freedom from the greatest empire on Earth.

Although slavery had been the status quo since the beginning of time, abolitionists demanded the end of the world as it then existed.  It took our worst war, but we defeated the scourge of slavery.

Although women had been denied the right to vote and civil rights since the dawn of civilization, the suffragettes took to the streets and won their rights.

That is the spirit we need to keep alive in our hearts, because as soon as we become complacent, we can lose it all.

God bless the unreasonable!

A government of laws, not men

As John Adams wrote in the Massachusetts Constitution (1780), in America, the government is to "be a government of laws and not of men.”  In other words, the law - and not the personal desires of the rulers - should govern.  No man, even the President, or Congress, is above the law. 

For more about the rule of law, check out Patriot Week and Americas Survival Guide.

King Arthur: My laws must bind everyone, high and low, or they're not laws at all.

In the movie classic Excalibur, King Arthur's wife, Guinevere, is accused of adultery with the King's champion, Sir Lancelot.  In the story, normally such a charge would be met on the field of battle by the husband of the wife, but Arthur defers the battle to Lancelot. Arthur, as King, must preside over the battle as judge to ensure that the battle follows the law and the pure of heart prevails.

Outraged that her husband refuses to champion her reputation, Guinevere confronts Arthur later that night, and the following exchange occurs:

Arthur to Guinevere: You [Lancelot and Guinevere] are the people I love best in the world. 

Guinevere: Then why can't you defend me? 

Arthur: The law!  My laws must bind everyone, high and low, or they're not laws at all. 

Guinevere:  You are my husband. 

Arthur: I must be king first. 

Guinevere: Before husband? 

Arthur: If need be.

Arthur exemplifies the First Principle of the Rule of Law.  He refuses to break his own law to ensure its integrity for the rest of his kingdom.  It was a concept alien to his own wife, and to most of world history.

As Arthur explained, a law is not a law if it does not bind everyone - from the lowest person to the highest - from the janitor to the CEO, from the prisoner to the judge, from the taxpayer to the President. Thankfully, America has taken a different path - one in which the rule of law prevails and our leaders are bound by the laws they make.

To learn more about the rule of law, check out PatriotWeek and Americas Survival Guide.

"[I]f the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted." --Noah Webster

Noah Webster was not just a great lexicographer, he had an astute political mind.  Although seemingly trite, his observation that a government full of unprincipled men must lead to corruption is very astute.  That men and women who run for office can leave principles behind in light of political or personal advantage is no surprise, but voting for a principled, honest politician has vexed American voters for generations.  Why is this so?  Are not the politicians simply an reflection of the people?  Perhaps principled government is hard to come by because we as a people have forgotten our principles and history.  The studies reveal that our citizenry is poorly informed of even the most basic tenants of our Constitution - is it no wonder that those who ask for our votes are often unmoored from it?  This is why initiatives like Patriot Week and books like America's Survival Guide are indispensable to preserving our liberty.  Save the republic - educate yourself and your family and vote accordingly.

YORKTOWN: "OH GOD! IT'S ALL OVER!"

Today (October 19), is just as much Independence Day as July 4 - it was on this day in 1781 that America won its independence from Great Britain.  British Commander General Cornwallis was forced to surrender his entire army to American troops under George Washington and French troops under Rochambeau.  The capitulation was won when French Admiral de Grasse appeared to trap the British with 28 ships of the line.

"Oh God! It's all over!" exclaimed British Prime Minister Lord North when he heard the news.  Although the peace treaty took another 2 years to negotiate, Lord North was right - and America had won its independence, and changed the world forever.