The Founding Fathers-What They Stood For
By Susan Steffen-Kraft
"Our forefathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal," so stated Abraham Lincoln.
Many of those forefathers were the ones who participated in the American Revolution and established the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. These documents in turn were based off the Magna Carta and the Mayflower Compact. All of these were great documents.
Patrick Henry was one of those men who went to the Virginia Convention and after giving his speech at the very end he said, "Is life so dear or price so sweet, as to be purchased at the chains of life or liberty? Forbid it! Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, "Give me Liberty or Give me Death!"
Our founding fathers pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor because they were willing to give all they had.
Your life means you are willing to die for a worthy cause, your fortune means things you tangibly own whether you are rich or poor, your honor means your good name and reputation and the keeping of your word and oath.
I wish that many today would be like those men and be willing to pledge the three things mentioned above; however I fear we would find few that would.
If you are speaking the truth or writing it then you must hold on to what you say, as it means nothing for you to speak or write something and then not stand by that truth you believe in. Many people standing together will succeed in defending a truth and that is what happened with the Revolutionary War. The Declaration of Independence was written one year into the war and the Constitution was written after the war. What they stood for was espoused and defended by many.
This description aptly fits the founding fathers. Though not perfect, they could not be bought or sold when it came to their country and the duty they felt toward their fellow man. They defied a king from across the seas to follow what they knew was the right thing to do. Many talk the talk but do not walk the walk. "The greatest want of the world is men, men who cannot be bought or sold...men who in their inmost souls are true and honest. Men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole and will stand for the right though the heavens fall."
Such a man by the name of John Adams said, "Whatever our fate, be assured.....that this Declaration will stand. It may cost treasure, and it may cost blood, but it will stand, and it will richly compensate for both. All that I have, and all that I am, and all that I hope, in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it; and I leave off as I began, that live or die, survive or perish, I am for the Declaration. It is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of God it shall be my dying sentiment, Independence now, and Independence forever."
Such a man by the name of John Adams said, "Whatever our fate, be assured.....that this Declaration will stand. It may cost treasure, and it may cost blood, but it will stand, and it will richly compensate for both. All that I have, and all that I am, and all that I hope, in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it; and I leave off as I began, that live or die, survive or perish, I am for the Declaration. It is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of God it shall be my dying sentiment, Independence now, and Independence forever."
The founding fathers understood that the American pioneers who came to this country were not looking for an easy life, although God knows they would have happy to be spared the hardship and even harder labor that they had to endure. Many were poor and would have enjoyed abundance, but they were looking to fulfill a vision; their faith, and their ideas with their intellect which meant not having a government to harass and hold them down to a common level for the benefit of the "general welfare." The promise this new country had for those who came was known as freedom!
I dare say that our Founding Fathers were liberals that believed in freedom. They were the real liberals in a classic sense of the word. They revolted against the autocratic use of political power and the idea of government behind the taxes. They did not vote against the taxes per say. King George and the British government had unlimited power so in their minds and in essence they were, classic liberals who loved their country, and made it very plain that the responsibility of the American government was to the American people.
"When we fear the government there is tyranny. When the government fears the people there is liberty!" A very wise man said this and his name was Thomas Jefferson. He was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and our third President.
I dare say that our Founding Fathers were liberals that believed in freedom. They were the real liberals in a classic sense of the word. They revolted against the autocratic use of political power and the idea of government behind the taxes. They did not vote against the taxes per say. King George and the British government had unlimited power so in their minds and in essence they were, classic liberals who loved their country, and made it very plain that the responsibility of the American government was to the American people.
"When we fear the government there is tyranny. When the government fears the people there is liberty!" A very wise man said this and his name was Thomas Jefferson. He was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and our third President.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were also well-educated men who knew what they were doing. It does pay to become well educated and well read but, besides being educated, they were dominant in their communities and prominent in national affairs. Twenty-nine of them had served in the Continental forces and in positions of command. Among them were lawyers, judges and others with varying degrees of experience and careers.
What a group of great minds they were that put these documents together; the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and finally the Bill of Rights. We are the beneficiaries that owe them a debt of gratitude for what they did and for where we live. "When the last dutiful & humble petition from Congress received no other answer then declaring us rebels, and out of the King's protection, I from that moment look'd forward to a Revolution & Independence, as the only means of salvation; and will risque the last penny of my fortune, & the last drop of my blood upon the issue." George Mason Oct. 2, 1778
Time to say enough is enough! Most I fear, are in a deep slumber. It is time to arise and shake off the deep sleep and sound the alarm. No more complacency but only courage is needed. Time for people to listen and see what is happening around them. Time to become educated and stand for truth. Truth cannot be sacrificed on the altar of fear!
Freedom isn't Free and with it may come the scorn of those who are content to go along with the crowd and will swallow anything they say. They are sheeple because they refuse to recognize the real dangers to their freedoms. The crowd is not always right my friends. Time to stand for your Republic with Liberty and Justice for All!
What a group of great minds they were that put these documents together; the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and finally the Bill of Rights. We are the beneficiaries that owe them a debt of gratitude for what they did and for where we live. "When the last dutiful & humble petition from Congress received no other answer then declaring us rebels, and out of the King's protection, I from that moment look'd forward to a Revolution & Independence, as the only means of salvation; and will risque the last penny of my fortune, & the last drop of my blood upon the issue." George Mason Oct. 2, 1778
Time to say enough is enough! Most I fear, are in a deep slumber. It is time to arise and shake off the deep sleep and sound the alarm. No more complacency but only courage is needed. Time for people to listen and see what is happening around them. Time to become educated and stand for truth. Truth cannot be sacrificed on the altar of fear!
Freedom isn't Free and with it may come the scorn of those who are content to go along with the crowd and will swallow anything they say. They are sheeple because they refuse to recognize the real dangers to their freedoms. The crowd is not always right my friends. Time to stand for your Republic with Liberty and Justice for All!
http://libertyonline.hypermall.com/henry-liberty.html., http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/charters_of_freedom_1.html http://www.anamericanvision.com/freedom_documents/charters_of_freedom.php, America's Promise by Dan Smoot, http://www.sullivan-county.com/bush/constitution.htm, https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index, https://thestarforum.wordpress.com/2009/06/26/pledge-your-life-fortune-and-sacred-honor/, http://www.ellenwhitedefend.com/subjects/callsinrgtname.htm, http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm
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