< Changing Worldviews.Commentary >
Words are powerful - Thoughts
shape - Ideas have consequences
Jonathan Krive
17 year old Law Student
Posted September 29, 2003
The Great Pillars of Our Government
Years after Alexis De Tocqueville made his renowned visit to America, he made
the following observation:“I sought for the greatness and genius of America
in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her
fertile fields and her vast commerce, and it was not there. Not until I visited
the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did
I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she
is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." Has
America forgotten these words?
How often do we, as Americans, strive to be great, but neglect to first strive
to be good? 50 years prior to de Tocqueville’s visit, the very forefathers
of this nation were heatedly debating the great issue of our constitution.
The question continued to arise, what should be the premise for the United
States Constitution? Consider the answer of the celebrated orator, Patrick
Henry, in his letter to Archibald Blair, “Remember this! The great pillars
of our government are virtue, morality, and religion. This is the armor, my
friend, and this alone, that renders us invincible. If we lose these, we are
conquered, fallen indeed.” Our Constitution guarantees the free exercise
of each of these pillars. Yet how often do we as Americans neglect their use?
Have we forgotten these great pillars? Where are virtue, morality, and religion
in the public square? We as citizens must reconstruct these pillars, becoming
living pillars as it were, to support the architecture of this nation.
Samuel Adams once wrote, “A free government cannot be supported without
virtue.” Of course the question must be asked, what is virtue? Montesquieu,
in Spirit of the Laws, stated, “Virtue may be defined as the love of
the laws and of our country.” While patriotism has soared since September
11, many Americans have neglected the practical application of patriotism:
political involvement. The U.S. Census bureau reports, “The 2000 Presidential
election had the lowest voter turnout since the election of 1924.” Amidst
threats of corporate corruption and terrorism, America’s Constitution
is under attack by a greater enemy, apathy. John F. Kennedy once said, “The
ignorance of one voter impairs the security of all.” Most would
look upon the vote as a right, in reality, the vote must be looked upon as
a duty
to one’s country. How can we say that we love America when we are indifferent
to its laws? By our apathy towards our laws and officials, we have yanked out
the first pillar of our government, virtue.
The second pillar, morality, is just as fundamental the first. As Americans
we should uphold the same moral standards as the framers of our constitution.
Benjamin Franklin, in his autobiography, listed 13 moral precepts that he strove
to keep. These precepts included: Temperance, Frugality, Justice, and humility.
But we must do more than just practice good morals; we must also pass them
down to the next generation. Political theorist Thomas Paine reminds us, “Whenever
we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that morality is not hereditary.” In
America, instruction and education of absolute morals has been pushed aside
for new post-modernist relativistic philosophies. In essence, if it feels good,
do it. We would be wise to heed the words of Daniel Webster, “If we and
our posterity trifle with the injunctions of morality and destroy the political
constitution which holds us together, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe
may overwhelm us, that shall bury all our glory in profound obscurity." In
America we have seen a blatant disregard for absolute morals. What can prevent
further disregard? Alexis De Tocqueville answered, “The safeguard of
morality is religion.”
This answer brings us to our third pillar. According to John Witherspoon, “Love
to God and love to man is the substance of religion. When these prevail, civil
laws have little to do.” Patrick Henry explained, “When a people
forget God, is when the tyrants forge their chains.” The framers of our
constitution went to great lengths to prevent any form of tyranny. The three
branches of our government were created for the express purpose of instituting
checks and balances. When people are controlled by inward principles, the government’s
job is minimal; but when a nation forsakes its foundational religion, disaster
ensues. Former Speaker of the House Robert Winthrop said, “Men, must
necessarily be controlled either by a power within them or by a power without
them; either by the Word of God or by the strong arm of man; either by the
Bible or by the bayonet.” The framers of our constitution knew that freedom
of religion was not only a fundamental right, but also necessary to the proper
functioning of our government and society.
Virtue, Morality, Religion; All three pillars comprise the foundation of our
government, each supporting the other. Virtue, the love of our laws and country,
cannot be separated from the moral obligation to uphold what is right. Morality
is dependant on the longer vision that religion affords. For religion to survive,
its followers must be virtuous. America must be good if America wants to preserve
its greatness. We as Americans must rebuild these great pillars of our government:
virtue, morality, religion.
Jonathan
Krive is an 18 year old Certified Legal Assistant, national debate team
star, and accomplished pianist. Having met the legal requirements for
high school graduation at age 15, Jonathan is a graduate of the Oak Brook
College of Law Paralegal School. The 2004 winner of the National Right
to Life Oratorical Contest competing against state winners of 20 other
states, he has competed in the National Christian Forensics and Communications
Association for four years, winning Original Oratory at both the 2002
and 2003 NCFCA National Tournament, and ranking as one of four competitors
who have won two years consecutively. He has also ranked 3rd place in
debate in the nation. A leader amongst his peers, Jonathan works to equip
his generation to take their role in the nation, as a debate coach, on
campaigns of young candidates, and as a leader in Conservative Clubs
of America and Teen Eagles. Jonathan is currently considering one of
several offered internships at California's State Capitol. Contact: jkrive@comcast.net