America is 243 years old. Still young as countries go.
But I believe that today the Nation is in more peril then in anytime since the Civil war.
Some words of Wisdom from Old Ben…
“Well Doctor what have we got, a republic or a monarchy.” Franklin replied, “A republic . . . if you can keep it.”
A nation of well-informed men (and women) who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins.” Benjamin Franklin
Imagine what Ben would think of the average college student today.
Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.
History affords us many instances of the ruin of states,
by the prosecution of measures ill suited to the temper and
genius of their people. The ordaining of laws in favor of one
part of the nation, to the prejudice and oppression of another, is certainly the most erroneous and mistaken policy. … These measures never fail to create great and violent jealousies and animosities between the people favored and the people oppressed; whence a total separation of affections, interests, political obligations, and all manner of connections, by which the whole state is weakened.
And one more:
Educate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future and crimes from society.
Benjamin Franklin
Judging from the behavior of our college students today this piece of sage advice has been ignored for a very…very long time.