By Steve Rossiter ——Bio and Archives--November 1, 2023
American Politics, News | CFP Comments | Reader Friendly | Subscribe | Email Us
There is an important missing ingredient in current American culture and western civilization. That missing ingredient is RESPECT. This little seven letter word, or its counterpart in other languages, is the second most important word in any language, the first being God.
Respect: transitive verb
1 a: to consider worthy of high regard: ESTEEM
b: to refrain from interfering with: please respect their privacy
2: to have reference to: CONCERN
Source: merriam-webster.com
To begin with, we must acknowledge that RESPECT is a two way street in most instances. In a civilized culture or society, RESPECT is a mutually agreed upon relationship by all participating parties. Without mutual RESPECT, there exists a terrible void that can’t be filled any other way.
The foundation for any civilized culture or society is RESPECT for a higher power that provides for moral guidelines in relationship with others. That is RESPECT for the one that we in the Judeo/Christian culture is called God. Although Jews and Christians view God differently, we abide by the same civilized governing principles as defined in the Old Testament by the Ten Commandments. Other cultures have other names for the deity that governs their behavior, but they also have standards to uphold and RESPECT.
Contrary to the somewhat popular “wokification” of American history, our original Founding Fathers and other forefathers knew that God, religion, spirituality, and Christianity in particular were the bedrock of a peaceful civilized society. They spoke of it widely, and used it as the basis of the United States Constitution.
As you consider the words of our forefathers below, see if you identify things these wisest of men were trying to communicate to their descendants.
"We have staked the whole future of our new nation, not upon the power of government… We have staked the future of all our political constitutions upon the capacity of each of ourselves to govern ourselves according to the moral principles of the Ten Commandments." ~ James Madison
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." ~John Adams
"It is impossible to govern the world without God. It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits and humbly implore his protection and favor." ~ George Washington
"Do not let anyone claim tribute of American patriotism if they even attempt to remove religion from politics." ~ George Washington
"The future of this nation depends on the Christian training of our youth." ~ George Washington
"I am sure that never was a people, who had more reason to acknowledge a Divine interposition in their affairs, than those of the United States; and I should be pained to believe that they have forgotten that agency, which was so often manifested during our Revolution, or that they failed to consider the omnipotence of that God who is alone able to protect them." ~ George Washington
Support Canada Free Press
"Make sure you are doing what God wants you to do--then do it with all your strength." ~ George Washington
"What students would learn in American schools above all is the religion of Jesus Christ." ~ George Washington
"While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian." ~ George Washington
"One's god dictates the kind of law one implements and also controls the application and development of that law over time. Given enough time, all non-Christian systems of law self-destruct in a fit of tyranny." ~ George Washington
“When you're down to nothing, God is up to something. The faithful see the invisible, believe the incredible and then receive the impossible." ~ Benjamin Franklin
"The reason that Christianity is the best friend of government is because Christianity is the only religion that changes the heart." ~ Thomas Jefferson
"Rebellion to tyranny is obedience to God." ~ Thomas Jefferson
"Man will ultimately be governed by God or by tyrants." ~ Benjamin Franklin
"Remember civil and religious liberty always go together: if the foundation of the one be sapped, the other will fall of course." ~ Alexander Hamilton
"I have carefully examined the evidences of the Christian religion, and if I was sitting as a juror upon its authenticity I would unhesitatingly give my verdict in its favor. I can prove its truth as clearly as any proposition ever submitted to the mind of man." ~ Alexander Hamilton
"Religion and good morals are the only solid foundation of public liberty and happiness." ~ Samuel Adams
"I thank God that I have lived to see my country independent and free. She may long enjoy her independence and freedom if she will. It depends on her virtue." ~ Samuel Adams
"The future and success of America is not in this Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which this Constitution is founded." ~ James Madison
"Our Constitution represents the work of the finger of Almighty God." ~ James Madison
"Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual… Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us." ~ John Hancock
"It is when a people forget God, that tyrants forge their chains." ~ Patrick Henry
"My most cherished possession I wish I could leave you is my faith in Jesus Christ, for with Him and nothing else you can be happy, but without Him and with all else you'll never be happy." ~ Patrick Henry
"This country cannot afford to be materially rich and spiritually poor." ~ John F. Kennedy
I leave it to you to determine if you are satisfied that the concerns of our forefathers are being met.
View Comments
After a 55 year career as a professional pilot in the military, in law enforcement, in the private sector, and in federal civil service, I am now retired.
In many of these positions I repeatedly took an oath to defend the United States Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.