Where does goodness actually come from?
Kadashan by Bertrand J. Adams Sr.
I was going to stay away from this topic, but I think, now, that I must express my opinion on the matter. It is this question of God being taken from the Pledge of Allegiance. I understand that many of the fathers of this country did not believe in a supreme being. However, it is a pretty well-known fact that when they locked themselves in Constitution Hall to plan the formation of this new nation they, indeed, opened and closed their meetings appealing for guidance from the Almighty. I have to say I sincerely believe these men were raised up by providence for the purpose of birthing a nation that was destined to serve as an ensign to the world. At the time America needed this - and America surely needs it now.
There is this beautiful painting of George Washington kneeling in prayer in the middle of the winter at Valley Forge. The story behind this painting was never elaborated much in the textbooks. We know his men were starving and ill clothed; we also know many were killed and just as many had deserted. In fact Washington had become disheartened himself. However, during this dismal spell he was prompted to appeal to the Creator. There was this vision Gen. Washington had during this special moment. The image was that of a dark cloud which hovered over America. Then the cloud evaporated and brightness radiated the homeland. With this revelation the father of this nation was able to gather his troops and not only win battles but win the war. This incident changed the course of history for all mankind. Think of it for a moment. If he hadn't seen this vision what do you suppose he might have decided during one of America's darkest moments?
God is mentioned in the Declaration of Independence five times. I think the most significant is where it says that we are all endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable rights. This means that our rights are derived from God, and that among these are the right to the protection of our lives, our liberties, and our pursuit of happiness.
It really says that.
Read it.
It's very clear.
In the second to the last paragraph there is mention that the founders appealed to the Supreme Judge of the world - and in the last paragraph they admitted that they relied on the protection of Divine Providence to guide them through troubled times.
Alexis de Tocqueville was a French political scientist who was commissioned by his government to visit America in the mid-1800s. His regime wanted to know why this country rose to such prominence in such a short period of time in comparison to other great nations that have come and gone. He found his answers when he visited the homes, the schools and churches. In the homes he saw family solidarity where people worked together. In the schools he witnessed students studying the Constitution. Teachers were having them take it apart and put in back together again. They needed to understand it so that if they had to they would be able to defend the republic. In the churches he saw the spiritual strength of America. In 18 months he completed his visit and returned to France to write this book called "Democracy In America."
You ought to read it. In it he wrote, "America is great because America is good."
What a statement! Where does this goodness come from? I think it comes from God.
And then he also said, "America will cease to be great only when it ceases to be good." The spiritual strength of America was derived from God-given principles.
So fine - take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance. However we cannot deny that He is assuredly in the credentials that set the standard for the world to draw from as a model for decency and goodness.
Are we going to allow that to be taken away too?
Well, we may allow God to be taken from our institutions, but to true Americans, never from our hearts, never from our roots, and never from our spiritual well-being.
Kadashan is the Tlingit name of Bertrand J. Adams Sr., who lives in Yakutat.