Courage to Reclaim Our Citizenship Will Help to Secure Our Constitutional Republic

At the beginning of 2024, I wrote an article for Canada Free Press that boldly predicted either courage or cowardice would shape the future of our Republic. Emerging from the “Dark Winter,” Courage or Cowardice Will Shape the Future of Our Constitutional Republic | Canada Free Press

In that article I admitted that “In the midst of the winter of ‘23-‘24, it may be hard to consider that what ‘We the People’ do or do not do this year may shape the future of America for a long time to come.”

I offered clarification with the point that in such an election year, ”both those who love the Republic and those who hate it will be contesting in unrelenting strife, not only at the ballot box, but also in the traditional ways of messaging, as well as untraditional ways of stifling free communication, free expression, and freedom of one’s voice via voting in fair and honest additional elections.” Yet, ten months later, as the presidential election of 2024 is upon us, it is doubtful that any guru or psychic would have predicted the many bizarre events that have led to the existential crisis America now faces

This election year has become one of the most divisive political battles in the nation’s history, and it’s likely that more than the usual political animals are now paying attention to the drama surrounding the election due to the two assassination attempts on Donald Trump’s life. But, on the other hand, many Americans may still believe that this election year is just “business as usual,” or more appropriately, “politics as usual.” Some segments of the population reflect a residual fear, some a pent up outrage in such a time as this. It is also a noticeable factor that Christians do not represent a unified voting block because a fragmenting of Christian harmony has taken its toll across America. Many Christians do not even bother to register to vote, let alone take the responsibility to cast a ballot.

There are many perspectives on our nation’s election process, but many of these perceptions have led to Americans abandoning their citizenship and no longer take responsibility to vote in our elections, whether the Primary or the General election because they have no confidence in the the system of electing our leaders and have lost interest in elections that no longer appear valid. It is understandable, but it is not excusable. If American citizens have given up their hope in the election process, ownership of the system is transferred to those who hate the Republic, which has become evident over the past few decades. Thomas Paine referred to similar types of people as “sunshine patriots.”

A common defense among Christians is the fallacy of the premise of the “separation of church and state.” It does not compute that there was ever intended to be a separation of faith-filled men and women from active involvement in government. It has simply become a convenient excuse for those who do not love the Republic. The variation of the excuse is that “holy people” should not participate in the political arena because it is too filthy, or “politics is too dirty” to get involved can be an easy excuse for not giving a damn, or being too lazy to even demonstrate giving a damn. This holds the same meaning as no love for the Republic.

Such excuses are normally lame excuses for not having the capacity or desire to be a loyal and responsible citizen. When those who used to love the USA only support the nation when it is pleasant, and shrink into the shadows of obscurity when it becomes challenging, Paine’s characterization is indeed appropriate. Keeping the Republic is not a spectator sport, and the political arena is a filthy place. So, that is why it separates the spectators and commentators from the true activists who are willing to forgo the filth and fight the good fight. It is why only David ran out to fight Goliath and the rest only watched in amazement the work of God within the person of absolute faith.

The people who are working to undo the Republic would rejoice when good people do nothing. It makes their path of destruction easier – a path of less resistance. The old adage that all it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing is an ancient truth – no matter who is credited with a similar quote. There is another old adage, unclear to this writer its origins, but it proclaims that “Our lives are God’s gift to us, and what we make of our lives is our gift to God.”

If more people lived in responsible relationships with God and each other, the world would be much closer to the Kingdom of God that many are seeking.

As the United States of America is dealing with this existential crisis, one must ask what that really means. Is it not the citizens, and not the government that are required to deal with the existential crisis? It is especially true if the government is complicit in amplifying the crisis via self-destructive measures. And to further the questioning: If the citizens have abandoned their citizenship, who are the citizens of the nation? Consider: If people who are supposed to be the citizens do not participate in the Republic, such as voting in elections, does the Republic have any citizens that would be capable of retaining it? A nation without responsible citizens is not really a legitimate nation – or it is a nation ruled by tyrants.

Honestly, the Founders understood that being a citizen of the United States of America requires an ownership mentality, not a tenant’s point of view or a spectator’s mentality.

Ownership means taking responsibility for the snarly mess that has recently been created by those citizens trusted as ‘leaders.’ Those who were trusted were not leaders; it turns out they were imposters. Sadly, it is the citizens who must take responsibility for being fooled. It is not the imposters who will take responsibility to right the wrongs. They are more likely to claim credit for their handy work of undermining our nation’s principles and Judeo-Christian values.

More than any other time in our nation’s history, American citizens must reclaim ownership of their citizenship. There is no cavalry, no Marines hitting the beaches, or paratroopers gliding in behind enemy lines that will help to rescue our nation from the clear and present danger before us. American citizens need to come to the conclusion on their own; it cannot be an act of force from outside them but a force from within that compels them to stand up for Freedom. It is past time for true Americans to reclaim ownership of their citizenship. It is no longer as simple as it once was. Voting is no longer secure and trustworthy. So much has recently been lost. So now, reclaiming fair, honest and valid elections is what true citizens must restore if the Republic will move beyond this existential crisis.