Dear SurvivalBloggers:
Growing up along the shores of Lake Michigan, I often looked upon the most foundational landmarks of the region; lighthouses. Each was unique in design but singular in purpose, their sole function being to provide a beacon of hope and direction amidst turbulent times of treachery and despair. When a vessel lost its bearing, wandering aimlessly, the lighthouse was ever present to guide the way to safety. Throughout history, man used tools such as lighthouses as guideposts toward security and prosperity. Without them his efforts were often misguided, lost, and smashed upon the rocks of hopelessness.
America’s shores bear another great landmark of security and liberty, the United States Constitution. As a phoenix from the flames of Revolution, the Constitution arose promising no freeman would ever be enslaved by the avarice of tyrants or kings. Its creators employed their knowledge and understanding of history, carefully considering governments past and present, in an effort to divine wisdom and understanding toward the ultimate goal of creating the most definitive and powerful document of freedom and liberty ever known to man.
This document would become the tool by which a world of slave traders would enact emancipation when history knew no such idea. It would be the device which would unlock man’s spirit allowing the liberty to prosper or fail, depending on individual choice and desire. It would be the mechanism by which economies would grow and prosper to the point man could leave the terrestrial bounds and seek the stars of space. It would also be the hope of men worldwide, enabling pursuit of the life they choose to lead, whether simple or sublime.
The US Constitution occurred not by happenstance or luck. Its birth was designed by the most learned and noble citizens the world had to offer: men, who sought freedom from persecution, yet swore their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the creation of a new land of hope and opportunity. Their design would be the foundational bedrock of a country encouraging all comers, bringing with them the earnest desire to participate in a free capitalist, Republic and a nation of laws, for the betterment of all citizens. A nation where each would be considered equal with his neighbor in opportunity, yet none would be guaranteed equality of outcome.
Nearly 224 years have passed since adoption of the US Constitution, during which mankind has experienced the most transformational period in the history of the world; progressing from the agricultural age of horse and plow to the understanding of the human genome and particle accelerators. One could argue these advances are directly related to the creation of the US Constitution being the very mechanism liberating a world trapped in obscurity. A simple document of liberty, freeing man’s mind and engaging his spirit to achieve whatever the Creator enabled within, while simultaneously ensuring no man capable of stifling another’s achievement without due process of law.
Today we rapidly approach the rocky point in the cycle of democracy where apathy leads to dependence, beyond which is bondage once again. Our society leans further from uncaring indifference regarding our political and economic plight to one in which all means of salvation stem from the benevolent hand of government. Individual liberty and personal responsibility have given way to the usurping power of collectivism and entitlement, wherein a multitude of society have become dependent on the redistributive hand of government, denying their birthright to liberty for the promise of a warm meal and shelter for the evening.
Heritage is fleeting. Lest we recognize ours is a nation of excellence, it shall be lost. Liberty is not offered lightly; it is guaranteed to freemen, having been procured by the blood of patriots and defined by the United States Constitution. Those who declare liberty, do so with the knowledge that all men are created equal, while those denying liberty do so considering men as subjects.
We have reached a crossroads in American history; imprimis or imprisonment? Are we to return to first principles or relegate ourselves to that point in history from which we rose as the phoenix? Should we choose the latter, we will ensure no future society shall achieve the liberty we had gained and squandered, once again becoming slaves of men. Should we choose the former, we shall only proclaim that which we already own and will once again rightfully declare is ours, granted by the providential hand of God; that being liberty. – Brad S.