So goes the title of the well known and loved American patriotic song. Interestingly, the second stanza ends, “America, America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law! “Confirm thy soul in self-control” is exactly what’s not happening in America today. The lack of self-control can have disastrous consequences. This is evidenced in both houses of the US Congress right down to the States,Cities, inner cities, and man in the street.
There is so much feud between Republicans and Democrats, not to mention infightings within each political party. Also, from time to time, the greed, corruption and dishonesty by some of our elected officials. This is the Congressional Oath of Office that each elected member is sworn to: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.” This oath is required by the U.S. Constitution. Obviously, there is a blatant disregard by crooked politicians for this solemn pledge. Shame on them.
From the “political arena” to the citizens. What America and the world witnessed on Saturday. August 12, 2017 in Charlottesville, NC, was shocking, reprehensible, deplorable, and disgraceful to say the very least. One would have thought this type of behavior was long gone. But obviously that’s not the case. It was good to see so many politicians of both parties and others publicly condemn this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence.
The question remains, as a nation, where do we go from here? Are we “one nation under God” as we recite in the “Pledge of Allegiance?” There are some who feel that America today is not what the Framers of our constitution intended. Can things change for the better? Without a doubt, as long as citizens of our great democracy endeavor to maintain our core values and strongly denounce violence, prejudice, intolerance, evil, and hate, which are the main factors in civil unrest. Instead of fanning the flames of divisiveness, politicians can do much more to bring people together in this country which is so sharply divided right now.
For many centuries, the christian church has stood out as a beacon and cornerstone in the American society. America has been referred to as a “Christian country” or a “God-fearing nation.” Research statistics show that between 73 and 75 percent of Americans say they are Christians. Not surprising, that right after 9/11, local churches experienced dramatic increases in church attendance. We enjoy all our basic freedoms, including freedom of religion, which is constitutionally guaranteed.
Those of us who are referred to as “church people” thank God that we can spread the good news of the gospel that “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scripture, sand that He was buried, and that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Christians are forbidden to openly practice their faith in some countries. On the other hand, people of various religious persuasions are free to practice their religion openly in any form without restriction or hindrance here in America.
Those of us who are “born again” christians, believe that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:16-17). Salvation is freely available to anyone who repents of their sin and accept Jesus Christ into their heart. There is no other way to be right with God. Jesus Himself declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).