Faith and the Roman Empire

From "The World's Great Letters"

Well may we be unhappy, for it is our sins that have made the barbarians strong; as in the days of Hezekiah, so today is God using the fury of the barbarian to execute His fierce anger. Rome's army, once the lord of the world, trembles today at sight of the foe.

Saint Jerome, letter to a friend, 410A.D.

"... the wolves of the North have been let loose..." writes Saint Jerome as he hears of the first sack of Rome. Among his other accomplishments was the first translation of the Holy Bible into latin, the Vulgate; Saint Jerome had lived much of the first 70 years of his life under the safe and wealthy governance of the "mother of nations." And yet his Christian faith assures his eternal service to the one eternal God- he tells this tale after the second sack "to those that come after..."

"... so that they may know that even in the midst of swords and deserts and wild beasts virtue is never made a captive, and that he who has surrendered himself to Christ may be slain but cannot be conquered."

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In Memory

From "The Spirit of Seventy-Six: The Story of the American Revolution as Told by Participants"

Letter of an unknown Patriot soldier.

New York, September 1, 1776

... Most of our generals, on a high hill in the lines, viewed us with glasses as we were retreating, and saw the enemy we had to pass through, though we could not. Many thought we would surrender in a body without fighting. When we began the attack, Gen. Washington wrung his hands and cried out, "Good God! what brave fellows I must this day lose!"

Onderdonk, Revolutionary Incidents, pp. 147-148.

We shall aways remember the brave men and women who have fought and died for us, that we may live in freedom from tyranny. The general was viewing the most stirring action of the one-day Battle of Long Island, Aug. 27, 1776. For heroism, nothing matched the actions of a band of close to 400 gallant men from Maryland led by American Brig. Gen. William Alexander, better known as Lord Stirling. When the effort finally collapsed, 259 American men lay dead, and another 100 or so were wounded.

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Liberty

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

Liberty is the right to do whatever the law permits.

Montesquieu, De l'esprit des lois, 1748

Politically speaking, the rule of thumb is: the less laws one is under, the more liberty he has. To measure one's liberties, one has to consider the number and weight of the laws, rules and regulations his government has imposed on him. To increase or decrease one's liberties, one must advocate for the respective decrease or increase of such laws; this applies to all levels of government, from local to international.

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At the polls: a song

AT THE POLLS: A SONG
By David Weller


Lasting in Line
is a crazy thing...
There is so much to do
before you can be voting

there is the heartfelt
chatter of hazing,
by those that have voted...

there is the cute
crashing of the computer,
by those that sell to voters...

there is the quaint
intimidation,
by those that legislate the vote...

Yes, Lasting in Line
is a crazy thing...
There is so much to do
by those that help voting

Oh, Lasting in Line
is a crazy thing...
There is so much to do
by those that help voting

This is a tongue-in-cheek look at the polling place during election day. As nerves get frayed waiting for the final count of delegates for each of the remaining presidential hopefuls this election season, a little light humor is quite called for! And, as they say, there is a little truth in humor, as, in fact, yours truly has experienced the same things mentioned in this poem at one polling place in one voting session! Seriously, though, we must honor the men and women who take time off their own busy schedules for the oft-maligned job of poll worker and thank them for the thankless work they do.

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Intellectual hatred

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

An intellectual hatred is the worst.

W. B. Yeats, 'A Prayer for My Daughter', 1919

A legislature, such as the US Congress, is a deliberative body during its legislative process; the president may deliberate with Congress during a bill's debates. In the interest of the public, an intellectual curiosity must be sustained until a final bill is passed or failed. The federal government must reflect the diversity of opinion of the people at all times- a thorough understanding of the bill in question, reception of constituents' input, arms-length advise from experts and an open legislative process are critical to a well-thought-out final vote.


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Peace and aggression

From "A Treasury of the World's Great Speeches"

"... If we adhere faithfully to the Charter of the United Nations and walk forward in sedate and sober strength, seeking no one's land or treasure, seeking to lay no arbitrary control upon the thoughts of men; if all British moral and material forces and convictions are joined with your own in fraternal association, the high-roads of the future will be clear, not only for us, but for all, not only for our time, but for a century to come."
Ex-Prime Minister Winston Churchill, "The Sinews of Peace" speech, March 5, 1946

These words, spoken at Missouri's Westminster College in reference to the then new "iron curtain", strike very truthfully and aptly for today, as well. We are presently a major ally with Britian and others on a world stage darkened by the aggression of extremist religion. Perhaps, we in the United States have not heeded some of Churchill's admonishments while confronting this new threat. We should take heart, that, for another 40 years of Winston's dream, we can return to his seasoned wisdom and take the "high-road" to peace.

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Patriotism

From www.poets.org

Patriotism
by Sir Walter Scott

Breathes there the man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
'This is my own, my native land!'
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burn'd
As home his footsteps he hath turn'd
From wandering on a foreign strand?
If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
For him no Minstrel raptures swell;
High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim;
Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonour'd, and unsung.

Whether in peace or war, patriotism runs deep in the proud citizen. His land (country) lives whole in his heart, and nothing escapes its riches, honor, fruit, fortitude and well-being. When times are threatening to his land, he takes a stand and says "no more." This is ours, and you can't take it away from me.

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Government by Idea

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

Government by Idea tends to take in everything, to make the whole of society obedient to the idea. Spaces not so governed are unconquered, beyond the border, unconverted, unconvinced, a future danger.

Lord Acton, MSS notes, Cambridge, late 19th-C

Of course, the 20th Century is ripe with governments by Idea, some of which are still surviving. Even in the U.S.A., the political landscape has at times been thick with one type or another of mostly leftist or rightist social philosophy; these have had a profound influence on public office candidate preference. Individuality takes second stage- he is but a pariah outside the realm of political correctness. Socrates knew the wisdom of self reflection and contemplation:

I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.

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Musical campaigns

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

What matters most about political ideas is the underlying emotions, the music, to which ideas are a mere libretto, often of very inferior quality.

Sir Lewis Namier, Personalities and Powers, 1955

Emotions are the glue that hold people together. Campaigns, whether they be emotional or not, for office are serenades to the voters- for as no idea is perfect, one solution must be forwarded. People will want to follow, if the idea is "sweet music to the ear."

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Politics and happiness

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

Vain hope to make men happy by politics!

Carlyle, Journal, 1831

"Vain" is the key word here, as everyone is a politician. No two souls have the same politics, so how does one make another completely happy? Hence, the value of debate and negotiation in legislation. No form of government has been found to be perfect, but an open political process generates transparency and accountability.

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