There is an edict in the 1776 Declaration of Independence that paints an ideal goal for any country, ‘all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,’
In 1787, as our infant country struggled under inadequate Articles of Confederation, a convention of 55 delegates from 13 colonies labored for months to find a new direction.
These delegates, brilliant with extensive knowledge of history, knew the successes and failures of world societies and were determined to set this country on a notable path. The US Constitution was drafted.
It’s been called the great experiment. Capitalism coupled with morality (free-market economics by Adam Smith), led by a representative democracy.
It hasn’t been pretty, and certainly not perfect. Like everything, ideals take work, they are constantly evolving with the hope of improvement.
Today, some people would prefer to tear down what we have and replace it with an altered form of socialism, thinking it will be better than the numerous attempts which have proven to fail.
Most of us know incentive drives accomplishment and freedom. I hesitate to say, but people who reject this premise are likely to be dangerously uninformed. They want to ignore history or simply believe it to be untrue. They want to rewrite books handed down for centuries to fit their narrative.
Those who want to destroy what we have are oblivious to reality, thinking it’s easy to start over. It is not. Every institution has growing pains. The key to success is to discover what works and what doesn’t; and do more of what is working and quit doing things that don’t.
USA leadership has shown extraordinary greatness in every arena of the world. It has saved millions of lives and enhanced lifestyles for even more. We need to honor these people who sacrificed their lives for us. They gave us freedom, more than any other at any time in any world. It’s undeniable.
Our challenge now is how to go forward from here. The answer continues in the Constitution and The Bill of Rights. They are full of dreams and ideals worthy to admire. Yet, we must find strength to see them fulfilled.
It’s essential for us to get back on track with fundamentals. Restore the rule of law equally, and without exception. Give us freedom that allows us to pursue a better life. Focus on family values. Teach children basic life skills. Commit to always doing the right things as we innately know them to be. And if we can’t say good things about others, then don’t say it. Expressing mutual respect is vital.
Written history is the truth. It’s what guides us. It keeps us on the right path, reminding us of where we have been and how to change course when needed. We learn as much from our failures as we do from successes. Erasing history only ignores it.
Today, we celebrate our country and its history. Let’s embrace it with the reverence it deserves.
Wishing you the best!
We invite you to call or text anytime, 605.359.4100.
Tony Ratchford, licensed Broker, Author, Coach, Manager, and Sales Consultant