The city on a hill
It wasn’t perfect, but in an imperfect world it was as close to perfect as the people had ever known. Only three promises were made: the chance to be alive, they would be free and they could pursue their own happiness. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
They loved their freedom. They clung to it. They wrapped themselves in it. They fought to preserve and they died to share it.
Freedom was supported by two important strengths. The people and the press. The people allowed themselves to governed, as a wild animal allows itself to be tamed. The governors served at the will of the people. Fortunately good people stepped forward. From among them they would vote on who would lead best. These fine people would serve as leaders then quietly return to their lives and others would step forward.
The press wielded the greatest power. Journalists, they were called would examine carefully each and everything about the leaders and inform the people about decisions, considerations and if there was any wrongdoing. No stone was left unturned. Journalists cared more about the telling the whole truth than they did about their own ideas. It was an incredibly difficult job. Imagine having to tell the truth when doing so would defeat leaders you admired, or causes you cared about. But the press alone would bring truth to the light and without them corruption would be unbridled. The fear of the press and the exposure of the truth kept those hungry for power, or money, under some control. When on occasion a scoundrel made their way to power their deeds were oncovered by these mighty heroes of the press and the people armed with knowledge made choices to replace them.
The people had never experienced such freedom. They were exuberant and freedom led to innovation and prosperity. Passionate arguments, fierce debates occured but the core principle of freedom acted as a beacon and shone through the fog to light their way through the most painful choices.
Some in the city did not prosper. Some in fact were enslaved. It took too long, but in time the principle of freedom had conquered even the worst acts of men.
In an imperfect world some have more, and some have less. All the great civilization guaranteed was freedom, not wealth, and not fairness. As some prospered others became jealous and bitter. They grumbled and pity found a home in the heart of the press. Guilt and pressure began to be applied through the power of the press. Those who had acheived more, recognized that others had less. Out of love for their fellow man they began to pay a portion of their own earnings to lift up their neighbors.
It seemed however that no amount would satisfy their jealousy. The more they gave, the greater the need. Whenever anyone had something better they wanted it too. The less fortunate stopped thinking and working entirely on how to gain the wealth through their own work and instead concentrated on how they could take more from their neighbors for themselves. They recognized that the power was held by the press and they infiltrated. Day and night, they spread their bitterness and resentment. A new idea was born in them.
You see, jealousy has only two ends. Admission of the jealousy or theft of what you want to possess. God had instructed them not to covet what their neighbor possessed but they heard Him not. He knew too well that jealousy leads to destruction.
One day, the final blow came in a horrible uprising. All the riches were taken and given to the poor in one bold move by the leaders. The poor gloated and celebrated. Cheering and toasting themselves the leaders went on for days. Those days turned into weeks and weeks turned to years.
After taking all they had ever wanted they were still somehow unsatisfied. Puzzled, bitter and angry again the people began to blame one another, for surely someone must be at fault. The leaders were ousted and new ones put in power but still they could not achieve the happiness they were certain this idea of fairness would lead them to find. How could it be that having what others had didn’t make them happy? Wasn’t all of this in pursuit of happiness? This too was unfair!
They began to consider that perhaps they had taken the wrong path, but it was too late. The fields had been overgrown. Those with ideas and industry moved to faraway lands where their earnings would not be stolen and their hard work mocked. Their resources could not be mined, their citizens were disheartened, discouraged, even slothenly. The people did not know how to work or care for themselves. Powerful enemies began to circle. The city was conquered.
The shining city on a hill was no more. Some people, remembered the old ways though. They remembered the ideas that had once made them great, they remembered what it was like to be free. To have nothing hold you back but your own determination. They were called Patriots. They passed the truth on to their children, quietly, secretly in their homes and churches. They prayed and planned, just as we are praying and planning now.
So my children, hold these truths in your heart. Know that you have nothing in this world if you are not free, nothing. Freedom is your true inheritance. It’s what your father, and his father and his father before him fought for and were willing to die for in our military. The time will come, your time will come to fight, with ideas, thoughts or with your lives but once again we will rebuild the city.
