Happy Memorial Day. That phrase will be repeated and repeated today. It's something that we do automatically. As we all know Memorial Day is to remember the fallen. That is what this day is all about. Most will talk of sacrifice. I say, Duty is not a sacrifice, Duty is an obligation. Since WW1 over 650,000 service members died fulfilling that obligation. Lincoln expressed that sentiment best when he said, " they have given the last full measure of devotion. " That is a sentiment that echoes across time. An obligation fulfilled. There are no words I can type that would express that any better. I am inadequate to the task.
In today's political climate I hear much talk of change. When I hear some of those proposals I am reminded of just what our soldiers died for. The preservation of freedom. And just what is that freedom? Is it solely what was declared in the Declaration of Independence? Is that freedom? Was freedom codified in the Constitution and its' subsequent amendments? Certainly those documents express the ideals of freedom , the ideals of man. Based in Judeo-Christian values and tradition, it is the best we have to offer. That constitution wasn't arrived at easily. That convention lasted one hundred and sixteen days. And remember they didn't start out with a blank sheet of paper. The revisions and rewrites took that long.There was much debate. Yes, it was well thought out!
Prior to the Constitution and its' ratification the United States was governed by the Articles of Confederation. From 1781 to 1789 that is what we had. The biggest issue with that document was it was weak. More specifically the Federal Government was weak and couldn't enforce its' laws. A better system was needed. Why was it so weak? To put it simply it was because the individual states didn't want to relinquish their power. A struggle that continues to this day. Think about sanctuary cities and now sanctuary states! The individual states do pass legislation in opposition to the central government. Issues like abortion and pot smoking are at the top of the list these days. But in the past there were other concerns, most notably slavery. But it was understood, by everyone, that a strong central government was necessary to the survival of the nation. Allow me to repeat that, a strong central government is necessary to the survival of the nation! For that reason at some point during that convention the " great compromise " was reached.
Just what is that great compromise? Well to put it simply it was the establishment of the house and the senate. Collectively known as Congress. The senate is to be composed of two representatives from each state in the union. That means, one hundred people today. The reason for that was to appease the smaller states, population wise. Each state equally represented. But that left the states with larger populations feeling cheated, after all we have more people! And so the house of representatives was created and those members would be determined based on the population of the state. That was the great compromise. Putting the good of the nation before their individual wants. Once that issue had been settled the convention moved forward.
Why do I mention all of this on Memorial day? I mention it because that is what our citizens have fought and died for. One Nation! Our duty is to that nation. Yes, the nation is comprised of fifty states. Yes, each state retains a degree of sovereign power. But collectively they form a nation. It is that One nation, Under God, that provides the freedom we all seek. Indeed , in the beginning those patriots put their lives and fortunes on the line for that ideal. Patriots have continued to do that ever since. Everyone mourns the loss. Most choose to celebrate the gain. And in that we find sacrifice. Personal sacrifice. Doing what is best for the nation. Compromise. It was and is my duty! My duty is to my country, it is not a sacrifice. It's simply doing what needs to be done. You don't need to sacrifice your wants, needs, or desires, just set them aside for a while.
All those that have died in defense of our nation did that. Their desire was to return home and pursue those dreams. They fell in battle, defending your freedom and theirs. They acted for the collective good. A great compromise? It was a risk they assumed. A duty fulfilled. There was no compromise when it came to that. It was an obligation. Our obligation is to remember and to commemorate. Nah, it is our duty!
In today's political climate I hear much talk of change. When I hear some of those proposals I am reminded of just what our soldiers died for. The preservation of freedom. And just what is that freedom? Is it solely what was declared in the Declaration of Independence? Is that freedom? Was freedom codified in the Constitution and its' subsequent amendments? Certainly those documents express the ideals of freedom , the ideals of man. Based in Judeo-Christian values and tradition, it is the best we have to offer. That constitution wasn't arrived at easily. That convention lasted one hundred and sixteen days. And remember they didn't start out with a blank sheet of paper. The revisions and rewrites took that long.There was much debate. Yes, it was well thought out!
Prior to the Constitution and its' ratification the United States was governed by the Articles of Confederation. From 1781 to 1789 that is what we had. The biggest issue with that document was it was weak. More specifically the Federal Government was weak and couldn't enforce its' laws. A better system was needed. Why was it so weak? To put it simply it was because the individual states didn't want to relinquish their power. A struggle that continues to this day. Think about sanctuary cities and now sanctuary states! The individual states do pass legislation in opposition to the central government. Issues like abortion and pot smoking are at the top of the list these days. But in the past there were other concerns, most notably slavery. But it was understood, by everyone, that a strong central government was necessary to the survival of the nation. Allow me to repeat that, a strong central government is necessary to the survival of the nation! For that reason at some point during that convention the " great compromise " was reached.
Just what is that great compromise? Well to put it simply it was the establishment of the house and the senate. Collectively known as Congress. The senate is to be composed of two representatives from each state in the union. That means, one hundred people today. The reason for that was to appease the smaller states, population wise. Each state equally represented. But that left the states with larger populations feeling cheated, after all we have more people! And so the house of representatives was created and those members would be determined based on the population of the state. That was the great compromise. Putting the good of the nation before their individual wants. Once that issue had been settled the convention moved forward.
Why do I mention all of this on Memorial day? I mention it because that is what our citizens have fought and died for. One Nation! Our duty is to that nation. Yes, the nation is comprised of fifty states. Yes, each state retains a degree of sovereign power. But collectively they form a nation. It is that One nation, Under God, that provides the freedom we all seek. Indeed , in the beginning those patriots put their lives and fortunes on the line for that ideal. Patriots have continued to do that ever since. Everyone mourns the loss. Most choose to celebrate the gain. And in that we find sacrifice. Personal sacrifice. Doing what is best for the nation. Compromise. It was and is my duty! My duty is to my country, it is not a sacrifice. It's simply doing what needs to be done. You don't need to sacrifice your wants, needs, or desires, just set them aside for a while.
All those that have died in defense of our nation did that. Their desire was to return home and pursue those dreams. They fell in battle, defending your freedom and theirs. They acted for the collective good. A great compromise? It was a risk they assumed. A duty fulfilled. There was no compromise when it came to that. It was an obligation. Our obligation is to remember and to commemorate. Nah, it is our duty!
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