A Shining City Upon A Hill
Ronald Reagan spoke frequently of "A shining city upon a hill" - A reference to the exceptionalism of the people and efforts of the United States.
The following commentary reiterates the same patriotic theme.
Courtesy of P.C., USA
America did not achieve its meteoric rise to the greatest single example of a free country and culture with no peers in the annuls of history by passively accepting the self imposed role of an omnipotent ruler supported by an obsequious administration.
America is a country with revolution fresh in its memory and formation and much like a volcano after a recent eruption the cooling period can still be interrupted with the occasional eruption.
Not being born an American citizen I have always had an unwavering faith and belief in its peoples values and unique acceptance and understanding of the unquenchable human spirit.
No matter how dark the political landscape may have appeared over the last year I have always found solace and comfort in the sound knowledge and judgment that the American people much like Americans of old will not tolerate the usurpation of their ideals by a government motivated by avarice and steeped in corruption.
The founding fathers were visionaries, (able to construct a foundation) in ways that still to this day in its simplicity and power is continually misunderstood and underestimated by all those that oppose it, either foreign or domestic.
P.C. ,USA
In Ronald Reagan's famous A Shining City Upon a Hill or A City Upon a Hill speech of January 25, 1974; he reminded us of American exceptionalism through:
- The courage of "those who pioneered the great wilderness in the beginning of this country" and of the "immigrants who were willing to leave the land of their birth and come to a land where even the language was unknown to them" for freedom.
- The bravery of those who signed the Declaration of Independence, under threat of death in order to be free and of the price they paid for our freedom
- Our unique Constitution that guarantees rights that are "yours by the grace of God, and no government on earth can take them from you."
- A nation fueled by responsible citizens. A nation that grew and prospered "without an area re-development plan, urban renewal or a rural legal assistance program."
- Government meeting it’s "highest responsibility" when, in order to protect and recover a single American citizen, Captain Ingraham in 1853 threatened military action against an Austrian ship after they kidnapped the American.
- The honor and bravery of US soldiers who have gone overseas fighting and dying in wars that were not fought for the sake of imperialism or even for ourselves, but for the freedom and the defense of others unable to protect themselves.
- Our generosity to others, reductions in poverty, reductions in disease, increases in standard of living, expansion of education, scientific advances, and tremendous strides in achieving equal rights/opportunities for all.
Reagan concluded with an appropriate quote by Pope Pius XII who said, "The American people have a great genius for splendid and unselfish actions. Into the hands of America God has placed the destinies of an afflicted mankind.", and stated that "We are indeed, and we are today, the last best hope of man on earth."
Although the general message of Reagan’s speech was about the greatness of America and it’s people, Reagan also included points of warning that are once again pertinent to a nation that has lost it's way:
- Point: The decline of morality, personal responsibility, and patriotism within the US results in groups refusing to lift a hand, expecting others to take care of them.
- Point: The importance of "trying to rekindle in our country all of the great ideas and principles which set this nation apart from all the others that preceded it" against the criticism of the loud voices who ridicule goodness and morality as “old-fashioned“
- Point: The liberal slogan "The greatest good for the greatest number" (touted by Edward Kennedy among others), which refers to acceptability of collateral damage in American lives has NO place in American exceptionalism. Reagan noted that tyrants throughout history use the same view to justify brutality and enslavement of their people. America is better than that.
- Point: Attacks on capitalism and free enterprise resulted in a majority of students adopting a belief that business was responsible for all things wrong in this country. Those students viewed a socialistic government takeover of private business as the solution. (Interestingly, the views of those young, easily manipulated students of 35 years ago are reflected in our current government officials.)
- Point: The growth of Government in size and cost leads to waste and inefficiency.
- Point: The poignantly accurate insight of Barry Goldwater warned that we "can't go on forever borrowing against the future, leaving a legacy of debt for another generation and causing a runaway inflation to erode the savings and reduce the standard of living."
Are we still the "City on A Hill" and "the last best hope of man on earth"?
- We set no good examples when we discourage innovation
- We set no good examples when we spend beyond our means
- We set no good examples when we turn our backs on morality and goodness
- We set no good examples when we lose our sense of personal responsibility.
Perhaps it’s time to clean house in Washington and to dust off the warnings and encouragement of Ronald Reagan’s timeless observations.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction."
Ronald Reagan spoke those words almost 50 years ago.
The last generation was able to turn the country around. Will we be able to do it again now?
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