Ancestry and Purpose

It seems to me there exists a lack of understanding of the meaning of Freedom....

a lack of Understanding of the Freedoms that define the United States of America....the 'Freedoms' laid out in a Constitution of well defined Ideas and Laws that stipulate the role of government and responsibilities of citizens....of citizens who are given the right to live their lives as they will within those Laws.

As I see it....The Constitution of the United States of America is a Handbook for Personal Freedom. The early American colonists believed they had

and so came to a new land resisting the pitfall of putting their lives again in the hands of entrenched 'royalty and church authority ". They created a very clear, concise, simple and conservative Constitution and based it on 'natural law' that gave to every man and woman the 'right' to life, liberty and the free pursuit and protection of personal assets and interests. They resisted the idea of legislating social justice...they were to see the obscene mayhem of the French Revolution whose leader's murdered in the name of social justice and 'vengeance' against any who did not fit into their idea of what people should have and do. Those early colonist understood that kind of arbitrary rule....they understood ungoverned 'mob rule'....and instituted instead a Rule of Law meant to protect every citizen from barbarism.

To the degree that men and women can be trusted with the lives of their fellow men and women when they are in charge of governing the citizenry by Laws of their own making, the Constitution offered that protection. It gave every citizen the right to seek his or her own fortune...to seek the fulfillment of every dream under Laws that guaranteed protection of person and property.

to grab onto this Dream of Freedom, an unwillingness to understand what it means for every man, woman and child to have 'equal opportunity' to live their lives as they choose....what is this unwillingness to believe in creating and protecting Freedom for every one every where. It seems as important as breathing....not only in America but throughout the world.

it means exerting the effort to make Freedom work for everyone in our every day lives. It means discipline within government, of and by politicians, industry, entertainers, the mass media, the educational systems, and last but not least, it means the disciplining of our personal appetites.

In order for Constitutional Freedom to work for all citizens, every man and woman within the society has to be respected. But respected upon what basis? Most of the colonists were Christian with varying ideas of Christianity, and they found the basic Truths they were looking for within the Teachings of Christianity....giving preference to none of the organized Christian religions of the time....focusing primarily on the basic Teachings of both the Old and New Testaments. Thus the legal and Spiritual basis for the New Nation was agreed upon with the Hope that the citizens could govern their human tendency to engage in the use of power and force against and over one another.

there have been 'forces' trying to destroy the Freedoms and the Justice written into her Constitution. It needs to be realized by people of the world today, that these were Ideas and Ideals, long smoldering Ideals, finally developed by those men and women who, for the most part, came to America to get away from the old totalitarian governments and religious systems that existed in countries, world-wide. And individuals, young and old, of every nationality, have been coming to the United States of America ever since for those same compelling reasons. People want to be, indeed, need to be free.

These Ideas of Freedom were codified into a working document, a Constitution, by people who understood what 'lack of freedom' meant. Leaving everything behind in the 'old country', they came to a new land which was called America and in time became the United States of America. These Founders, men and women, put into legal documents 'statements of Truth' that became the American system of government....a system that gave every man and woman a chance to be all they could be, using their individual God-given talents.

And living proof of what free people can accomplish is the economic and social progress of the Nation....the proof is the greatly improved standard of living evolving in just over two hundred years....years in which average individuals have been allowed to pursue their own human destiny. And this system of Constitutional Laws, if adopted by other countries would bring the same gifts of economic and evolving social justice to the people of those countries. 'The 'Constitutional Republic of the United States of America' was designed to protect 'the rights of people'. That intent was written into what I believe is the world's most valuable legal document....the Constitution....which became, when ratified by the then thirteen colonies the Law of the Land

From the start there have been 'negative forces' working against the Idea of Constitutional Liberty in America. Those 'forces' succeeded in defeating the 'natural rights' idea in parts of Europe....in countries undergoing governmental changes in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. When the smoke cleared at the end of the several French Revolutions 'privileged royalty of the past' was out but a new elite socialistic system of governing was in. And socialism focuses, not on Freedom of the small individual, but on what is called 'social justice'. It is a system of human 'control' accepted by many people who think it means government should take care of everyone. Actually it results in two tiers of society....the elite controllers and those who ultimately become nothing more than serfs....this is the old world way of dividing society into the producers and those who appropriate what is produced and distribute it according to their whims. It result in the very rich and the very poor....it destroys the middle class that has been the source of America's productivity and prosperity.

Unfortunately this liberal idea has spread in varying ways not only throughout Europe but is currently spreading within the United States as well.

That is only one of the forces/ideas that are opposed to Freedom of the individual, ever and continually at work, through various peoples and under different guises the world over.

These 'forces' have as their agenda: the continued control of mankind....control that grinds humanity into the dust wherever the enslaving force cannot otherwise bring people to their knees.

This is what people continue to face in many parts of the world today and a study of history shows this 'force', known by many names, has been at work for thousands of years and one civilization....one culture after another... has been converted or over run or destroyed.

Historically, people the world over have been dragged into war after war, century after century....into wars that are rarely the people's desire or of their making, though I think it is probable that some wars are the result of poor leadership that results in the people's complacency.

Today there is little doubt in most people's minds that there are 'changes' in the wind. All kinds of 'changes'....and one has to wonder what kind of 'change' will win? Since there has been a definite direction towards Freedom of the individual', physical and Spiritual on one hand and a continuing and unrelenting mind-set against either...which idea will win?

'Will God's Idea of Freedom win or will the devilish machinations that come against all that God Wills for the people continue to prevail?

Will the people, if given the choice choose Freedom for themselves or allow the continuing human control of their lives.

Will mankind decide to reach a little Higher in their perspective of Life and in their appreciation of their fellow men and women and choose to strive for more than just satisfying its daily physical needs or continue the status quo?'

Thus, I spend many hours researching Ideas of Freedom and what Freedom means in the Bigger Picture. I am convinced that today, if we try, we can achieve Freedom for at least those who want it and are willing to work for it. To do that we have to have a sense of the political, economic and 'anti-god/religious' forces in play....some of the many forces vying for control of governments and economic markets that will impact our freedom. I am convinced we must awaken to all the pressures being put upon the constructive people of the planet....we must personally prepare and plan to survive whatever may be directed against the welfare of the people....

And be willing to fight for Freedom! We need to be ready to defend ourselves and our country from all that would destroy the fabric of Freedom in America if the need arises. And that seems to present a problem for many in America....who argue for and vote for 'ignoring any issue that speaks of the need for government to be focused on national security.' I wonder 'are they asleep....or are they ignorant....and do they constitute a 'clear and present danger' to the safety and security of the people and Nation?'

There is adequate evidence that there are extremely evil people on the loose world wide....there continues to be no shortage of serious international 'power plays'....

There continues to be 'godless forces' at work in many countries, ready to unleash world wide nuclear war, disastrous wars that do not need to happen if people of the world will wake up and discern the Truth of what is taking place...if people will make themselves aware of a 'sinister force' that always seems to be able to find a new crisis....a new dictator who can be used to cruelly manipulate and threaten humanity. They need to be stopped before it is too late!

I believe that the warring conditions among the people of this Planet can be laid to rest once and for all when enough individuals awaken to a level of Spirituality that reveals to them the manipulation of mankind that is going on right under their noses....and when they accept their responsibility to be the Spiritual-catalyst for constructive, humane change.

together, with the Help of Heaven, we, the People of the Planet can be Inspired to take the appropriate steps to put an end to murder and tyranny and political and economic control wherever it exists.

If we, the People will to do it, we can 'cover over', we can replace the old hates, the old patterns with today's better and deeper Understanding of Brotherhood.

If we, the People will do it, we can continue to supply help and Love to those in need, we can inspire those who have never had nor imagined what it is to live in dignity while enjoying personal Freedom.

Will the People accept this challenge! The governing documents of the United States of America were designed to give the People of the world not only Ideas of personal Freedom but the framework of Freedom by which to strive to fulfill the dreams of the Founders.

Those citizens of the United States who know they are greatly blessed to live in a free country quietly share their Blessings....doing it with Compassion and a Willingness to give of their time, energy and wealth. They have since the beginning of the Nation sacrificed their lives for Freedom, for their own Freedom and for that of their brothers.

The people of the whole world continue to be helped by the national compassion of the free people of the United States....people who are free to Serve humanity...free to express a compassion that gets little notice....and more often receives the unjustifiable criticism and condemnation not only of their own countrymen who do not believe in Constitutional Government, but also of countries who take the help that is offered and turn their backs when America has need of their support.

Many Americans have felt and feel they have a Responsibility to share this Knowledge of Representative Constitutional Government while offering leadership and help of many kinds along the way with other countries.

Sadly however, there are people both in the United States of America and in other countries who still have no concept of the Cosmic Dimensions of the Great Gift of Freedom that has been offered humanity at this time.

Therefore the question in our time becomes 'Will individuals....will Nations awaken to the Bigger Picture of Liberty and Freedom being offered to the humanity of Earth?

Or will this great Spiritual Experiment in Freedom of the Individual go down to defeat beneath the obscene viciousness, ignorance and greed of those who see their fellow men and women as something to be hated, ignored, controlled or destroyed when their usefulness is at an end.....will history continue to repeat itself?

Freedom to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of individual endeavors with a Constitutional Government's guaranteed protection of person and property is the Quality of Life being experimented with in the United States of America...while being envisioned for the humanity of Earth by the Spiritual Hierarchy at this time.

And once knowing that, one wonders if that 'Freedom' can survive the ignorance and deliberate evilness of certain of mankind...

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

erica A

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!

America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassion'd stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness.

America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes prov'd
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life.

America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.

America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.

A Little Bit of History....

The lyrics to this beautiful song were written by Katharine Lee Bates (1859-1929) an instructor at Wellesley College, Massachusetts, after an inspiring trip to the top of Pikes Peak, Colorado, in 1893. Her poem, America the Beautiful first appeared in print in The Congregationalist, a weekly journal, on July 4, 1895. Ms. Bates revised the lyrics in 1904 and again in 1913. In addition to those changes in the words, it is notable that the poem was not always sung to the tune presented on this website ("Materna," composed by Samuel A. Ward in 1882, nearly a decade before the poem was written). In fact, for two years after it was written it was sung to just about any popular or folk tune that would fit with the lyrics, with "Auld Lang Syne" being the most notable of those. The words were not published together with "Materna" until 1910, and even after that time, the tune to be used was challenged to some degree. For example, in 1926 the National Federation of Music Clubs held a contest to put the poem to new, reportedly "less somber," music, but no other entry was determined to be more acceptable. Before her death in 1929, Ms. Bates never indicated publicly which music she liked best, but it now appears likely that America the Beautiful will forever be associated with "Materna."

This Information thanks to
NIEHS Patriotic Songs
NIEHS Sing-Along Index
NIEHS Kids Page Main Index

Subject:

An American

Sent to me by a friend. Author unknown.

You may have missed it in the rush of news last week,
but there was actually a report that someone in
Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a
reward to anyone who killed an American, any American.

So an Australian dentist (God bless him) wrote the following to let
everyone know what an American is, so they would know when they found one:

An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish,
German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek.

An American
may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian,
Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian,
or Arab, or Pakistani, or Afghan.

An American may also
be a Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache,
Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as
native Americans.

An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or
Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims
in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is
that in America they are free to worship as each of
them chooses. An American is also free to believe in
no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not
to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak
for the government and for God.

An American is from the most prosperous land in the
history of the world. The root of that prosperity can
be found in the Declaration of Independence, which
recognizes the God given right of each person to the
pursuit of happiness.

An American is generous.

Americans have helped out
just about every other nation in the world in their
time of need. When Afghanistan was overrun by the
Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and
supplies to enable the people to win back their
country. As of the morning of September 11, Americans
had given more than any other nation to the poor in
Afghanistan.

Americans welcome the best, the best products, the
best books, the best music, the best food, the best
athletes. But they also welcome the least.

The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty,
welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse
of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed.

These in fact are the people who built America. Some
of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of
September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their
families.

I've been told that the World Trade Center
victims were from a least 30 other countries,
cultures, and first languages, including those that
aided and abetted the terrorists.

So you can try to kill an American if you must.

Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao
Tse-Tung, and every bloodthirsty tyrant in the history
of the modern world.

But, in doing so you would just
be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a
particular people from a particular place.

Everyone who holds to that Spirit, everywhere, is an
American.

And finally, dear friends of this Website,