HAPPY BIRTHDAY

The Greatest Nation on Earth

I will always remember sitting on a chartered commercial airliner returning from the Gulf War. We were the 82^nd Airborne Division, so the pilots allowed a jumpmaster to give the pre-jump commands as we approached the airport in North Carolina. The Jumpmaster then had to return to his seat and buckle up moments from landing.

As the plane’s wheels were touching the tarmac, the pilot said over the intercom, “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the greatest nation on earth.”

As we threw pillows and cheered raucously, we had no doubt we were returning to the greatest country in history. I still thank God I was born in the USA and believe there is something special about this place. We often use our First Amendment rights to trash American politics and even to point out real or perceived flaws, but this is the beauty of our country… we have the right to do so.

I remember my grade school textbooks boasting of America’s productivity. The texts informed what percentage of the world’s metals, textiles, cattle and more were produced by the United States. The numbers were impressive. All of this, the book said, while only having a fraction of the world’s population. We were proud to be American.

Our teachers taught us how both World Wars turned in favor of the Allies once America became involved. They did not pollute our minds with rubbish alleging communist Russia rescued the world from the war they helped facilitate and only won because of the aid the Allies provided them. We had no shame in believing our country was a phenomenal place.

I remember the Bicentennial. We proudly put on special programs at school. Everything was red, white and blue. Admittedly, some of the festive memorabilia was made in Japan, yet the celebration was distinctively American. Again, our teachers explained the Revolutionary War from the colonists’ point of view.

Mr. Howell, our youth Sunday School teacher asked us, “Do you know why the thirteen colonies defeated the British Empire?”

We replied, “Because the British advanced in ranks and we hid behind trees with our squirrel guns,” we replied.

“No,” he responded, “it was because God fought on our side.”

George Washington fought many conventional, set piece battles. While the squirrel gun militiaman is a proud part of history, Mr. Howell’s understanding of the war was much sounder. Baron Von Steuban wrote a simplified manual for battlefield drills, (advancing in ranks) which contributed to the colonies’ success. Of course, the militia focused on accuracy over volume of fire, which is undeniably a tactical advantage. We had a better intelligence infrastructure, assistance from France and home field advantage, but Great Britain was an empire.

Humans love arbitrary marks on the wall. The Millenium, the Bicentennial, two hundred fifty years semi-quincentennial. We celebrate because of this fascination with mile-markers. In 1976, Jimmy Carter was president. We predicted at the time he would go down in history as our worst-ever POTUS, (probably because we did not live through Presidents Wilson and Hoover and had yet to live through some more recent administrations). Nonetheless, we celebrated the greatest nation on earth, which at the time was wounded, and catching its breath.

We have had our failures and frustrations, but we have yet to ensconce a Napolean, Mussolini, Hitler or Stalin.

Our freedom of religion has enabled us to choose to serve God, to worship according to the dictates of our conscience. God rewarded us for two-hundred-fifty years because we chose to serve Him. Throughout history nations have been politically Roman Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Buddhist and other formal labels. America was a Christian country because individuals chose to serve the God of the Bible, not because of a political expedient.

The First Amendment does not protect politicians and obdurate atheists from religion. The “separation of Church and State” means Congress cannot establish a state religion. It does not mean we cannot write Congress to pass laws in keeping with the fundamental morality we find in Scripture.

I find it odd that the very Bill of Rights establishing our liberties is sometimes weaponized against those liberties. In the Great Britain of 1776, only noblemen, “peers,” had a right to keep and bear arms. It was often simply a fashion statement, an ancient form of “bling.” The Second Amendment ennobles us all; God created us equal. Now, for the sake of “safety,” movie stars and politicians with their private security entourages call for “common sense gun legislation.” When have you known these people to use “common sense?”

The owners of social media platforms have confessed to practicing censorship for the sake of fighting “disinformation.” It was not considered illegal because they were “private enterprise.” If they are truly “private companies,” let them buy their own cell phone towers and other necessary municipal infrastructures.

What would Mr. Howell think now?

“History shows, experiments in socialism and secularism lead to feudalism”

Happy Birthday America. We are a young nation. I have lived through over a fifth of this Experiment in Democracy. I have seen bright achievements and dark failures. I am still proud to be an American. I have laid to rest many young patriots who answered the call. None of them got rich through the industry of warmaking. I owe it to them to celebrate this special Fourth of July.

It would be inappropriate to celebrate any Fourth of July without a reminder to serve as a warning. Every step we take away from God is a step into squalor, servitude and penury. History shows that experiments in socialism and secularism lead either to feudalism or outright ruin. All these ideologies need is a toehold, like weeds in fertile soil. There is no such thing as “a little socialism.” These ideas squelch the Image of God stamped into each of us.

The odd paradox of corporate individuality leads us all to greatness.

Happy Birthday America! Celebrate the Fourth of July, then on July fifth, write your public officials and exercise the franchise.

Pray for this great nation, privately, and while you still can…publicly.