I believe in the the American People

In the last few months I have seriously thought about my decision from 15 years ago on becoming an American citizen.  The judge who swore us in gave such a moving appeal to all the new nationals.  In all the years since I have always been proud to be an American.  Did I make a mistake by becoming a citizen of the United States?  I don’t like the way our country is run right now, with all the wars against this, that and the other.  All the threads and fears which are emanating from our government; what happened to the land of the free, the home of the brave? 

What does it mean to be an American citizen?

In the classes I had to take to qualify for citizenship I learned about the Constitution.  It is one of the requirements to show that you are attached to the principles of the Constitution  of the United States. 

It was the founding fathers ideas and especially the conviction of Thomas Jefferson, the writer of the Declaration of Independence, to keep religion and state affairs separated.  In the past that has worked really well, that legal residents could follow their own religious beliefs without infringing on their neighbors. 

The constitution also gave us the rights to voice our opinions without being harassed by anyone including authorities. It seems contradictory that new citizens have to swear to uphold the constitution when our own government is not following the same rules.

"A Time for Choosing" by Ronald Reagan 60 years ago 10-27-64

We have to know our history

When I was in school, I never liked history.  Maybe it was the way it was presented, too dry and lifeless.  Someone once said we need to know our history to know our future.  History runs in cycles, and when we can see those repetitions it should surely open our eyes.  But do we really learn from history?

History never made much sense to me until I studied the History of the Providence of Restoration (HPR) which is taught by the late Reverend Sun Myung Moon in the Divine Principle.  The HPR starts with biblical accounts of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and their families, and goes through three parallel periods of repeating similar events and brings us to today, the time of the returning Messiah.

 

 

We have to know who we are

“Know Thyself” is an age-old maxim.  When we know who we are we know what to do.  Our god-centered conscience will be our guide.

Too many people today have been lulled into an hypnotic trance giving them free money, free cell phones, free health insurance, etc. for doing nothing.  Uncle Sam’s promises come with a high price: giving up self-reliance, character, and traditional family values.  Excellence has been replaced by mediocrity, dreams have been shattered by false promises.  

I like how Victor Frankl, a holocaust survivor, gave an interesting insight in 1972 about believing in people.  He suggested to target people’s ideal potential to live a more meaningful life.  Aren’t we all looking for more meaning in our life?  If Victor Frankl, who describes his experiences of his life in a concentration camp in his book “Man’s Search for Meaning,”  can believe in the goodness and righteousness of people, we can also find meaning in believing in the higher potential of human beings. 

“The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing.”

~ Edmund Burke (1729-1797) Irish Statesman and Philosopher
 

As a citizen I will vote next Tuesday, November 4, 2014.  It is my right and my privilege to cast my vote.  I believe that the system is not going to betray my vote through mechanical failure or will-full manipulation, and if there was found such, I trust that it will be rectified by the people who have built this nation as a free country where every vote is counted in its rightful way.  Democracy means that we have choices protected by the law. 

I want to encourage all good citizens of this great country to go vote this coming November 4^th.