Statistically speaking, it is likely that all the men in this painting were Christians. The men wearing Red Coats were members of the Church of England.Clearly, the Christians in the Red Coats are using their bayonets and trying to kill the Christian on horseback, who, with his sword, is trying to kill the Christians in the Red Coats.
In a couple of weeks, on July 4th, Americans will honor the man on the horse, but not the men in the Red Coats. There will be parades, fireworks, concerts, and a national day off work.
Statistically speaking, the vast majority of Americans will be oblivious to the issues depicted in the painting above. They just like parades, hot dogs, and fireworks.
And a day off work.
The more you know about that painting, and the more you know about the emotions and ideas that are behind it, the more you realize that America is a completely different nation today.
Statistically speaking, most Americans really don't honor the Minutemen. Americans don't believe in resisting tyranny. Certainly not with the arms protected by the Second Amendment.
In fact, statistically speaking, most Americans favor tyranny. What America's Founders called tyranny, today's Americans call "security." Or "a safety net." Far from resisting tyranny, most Americans clamor for it, and vote for it.
Americans want security, not risk.
Samuel Adams, the "Father of the American Revolution," said:
If ye love wealth better than liberty,
the tranquillity of servitude than the animating contest of freedom
—go from us in peace.
We ask not your counsels or arms.
Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you.
May your chains sit lightly upon you, and
may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen!
Americans love wealth better than liberty. Today "the animating contest of freedom" is denounced as "cut-throat competition."
Ironically, love of wealth has led to slavery. "I own my own home," says the average mortgage-paying American, thinking he has "wealth." The Bible says "The borrower is the slave of the lender." (Proverbs 22:7) And while homes built in 1776 were built with quality to last for centuries, homes today are designed to be torn down and replaced within a generation.
Should we celebrate "Independence Day" on the 4th of July?
Americans today are not real Americans, if "American" is someone who loves liberty more than security, and more than the trinkets we call "wealth."
1 comment:
Great post, Kevin. I often wonder just how some of the Founders would react if they could see what has become of America.
Post a Comment