People who are not free yearn for freedom. When they can, they will fight, knowing some will die, to become free. It is an old story. Also an old story is that the further away from that day freedom was won the people become, the more likely they will assume it will always be theirs. Think again.
"The loss of freedom is always just one generation away". ( I put that in quotes but it could be slightly different.) Ronald Reagan, what an unlikely name for a President, said those words. It is just that easy to lose it if any generation stops being vigilant. It can slip away or be torn forcefully from us by tyrants. Neither can happen unless we allow it.
Americans tend to live in the present. Rarely do they look into the future and imagine how their actions now will impact those who follow. By looking out for future generations, we help our own. Current policies, which many have encouraged, may help some now but are devastating for our children and theirs. By looking out for them now we will improve our condition in the near term.
Freedom is most likely to be preserved, not by force, but by having a strong economy where most people are able to raise their families in peace and reasonable comfort. Unless the vast majority have something to lose, they will not fight or care as much for freedom. A happy middle class will not fall victim to the wily ploys of demagogues. The first signs of demagogues in action are promises which are obviously impossible to keep. As the old saying goes, "If it sounds too good to be true, it's too good to be true".
Preserve freedom IN your generation for freedom FOR the next one. If each generation does that, 1,000 years from now, we'll still be free.
"The loss of freedom is always just one generation away". ( I put that in quotes but it could be slightly different.) Ronald Reagan, what an unlikely name for a President, said those words. It is just that easy to lose it if any generation stops being vigilant. It can slip away or be torn forcefully from us by tyrants. Neither can happen unless we allow it.
Americans tend to live in the present. Rarely do they look into the future and imagine how their actions now will impact those who follow. By looking out for future generations, we help our own. Current policies, which many have encouraged, may help some now but are devastating for our children and theirs. By looking out for them now we will improve our condition in the near term.
Freedom is most likely to be preserved, not by force, but by having a strong economy where most people are able to raise their families in peace and reasonable comfort. Unless the vast majority have something to lose, they will not fight or care as much for freedom. A happy middle class will not fall victim to the wily ploys of demagogues. The first signs of demagogues in action are promises which are obviously impossible to keep. As the old saying goes, "If it sounds too good to be true, it's too good to be true".
Preserve freedom IN your generation for freedom FOR the next one. If each generation does that, 1,000 years from now, we'll still be free.
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