Washington and Lincoln Call the American People to Reclaim their Rights from Government
By: Scott Powell
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Source: Swann Auction Galleries via AP
With the shock and awakening of Americans that the freedoms, rights and opportunities they had taken for granted for generations have been brazenly stripped away in the last few years, this President’s Day 2022 may well be one of our most significant holidays. Presidents Day is unique among American holidays in providing the opportunity to appreciate why George Washington and Abraham Lincoln—whose birthdays fall in February—were the two greatest U.S. presidents.
While Washington was the founding father of the United States becoming the first President in 1789 after final success in the War of Independence, Lincoln would save the nation from division and collapse—bringing an end to the Civil War and the scourge of slavery as the sixteenth President in 1865. In short, Lincoln saved the republic that Washington made possible. And two remarkable men they were, whose wisdom, judgment and foresight are more relevant today than they were in their times.
In both Washington and Lincoln, we are confronted with flawed men who made mistakes, but whose remarkable qualities of character were so formidable that they became part of the essence of what we call “American exceptionalism.” Both presidents readily admitted that it was not their own abilities that made the difference but rather their faith, trust and reliance on God that gave them their strength and opened the way for ultimate success.
What is particularly striking for people today is that both Washington and Lincoln agreed that America’s greatest threat to its national survival would not come from military invasion from a foreign power. Rather America’s downfall would come from within.
Washington’s Farewell Address was so popular that it was reprinted more than the Declaration of Independence. Prophetic in places, it warned of three sources of peril to liberty in the American Republic. And these are more relevant now than ever before: 1) the failure of citizens to be well-informed; 2) internal division because of party factions and hyper-partisanship; and 3) the decline of religious obligation and national morality.
Lincoln asked, “At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? He answered that question, stating, “If it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us; it cannot come from abroad. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide.” On another occasion, Lincoln said, “The people… are the rightful masters of both congresses, and courts—not to overthrow the constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it.”
After his reelection for a second term, Lincoln observed that “…corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.” While he could not possibly have foreseen the technological transformations to come in the U.S. economy, Lincoln was still prescient. It’s now obvious that the aggregation and concentration of wealth in the information technology industry today is undermining Constitutional First Amendment rights. Free speech after all is the cornerstone of the republic. One is reminded of Ben Franklin’s warning to future generations that, “there is no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech.”
Washington and Lincoln were unique and very different in personality, but both were men of deep faith, wisdom, courage, and persistence. Each in different times with different challenges was willing to sacrifice their lives for the greater good. They both shared a vision of America as a nation grounded in the ideas of the Declaration of Independence that would provide its people the freedom and rights to pursue life, liberty and happiness. And they both believed that if the nation lived up to these ideals, The United States would be a light and beacon of hope for the world.
Washington and Lincoln were committed to government of the people, by the people and for the people. If somehow, they could be resurrected and transported into the present, they would scarcely recognize what America has become. Their observations would probably start with cheering on efforts of American citizens to push back against the abuse of government power at every level, guided by the determination to reclaim the God-given rights enumerated in the Constitution’s first ten amendments.
Presidents Day offers us the opportunity to contemplate the qualities of these two unique individual leaders—the greatest American presidents. To the extent we can internalize and build character around the virtues that each embodied, we too can regain our voice and courage to fight to reestablish our unalienable rights that define who we are as Americans. Our success in so doing may well be the key to preventing our nation’s downfall. We stand on the shoulders of so many who came before us who were willing to give their lives for freedom and equality. We are called to do no less.
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George Washington also had the 1st vaccine mandate for his soldiers, to combat small pox. George Washington was also a Freemason, which is considered a cult by many current organized religions.
As a young man, Abraham Lincoln openly admitted to his lack of faith. As a politician, he spoke about God but refused to say he was a Christian. Every U.S. president has been a member of a church, except for one: Abraham Lincoln.
What rights are you whining about allegedly losing today?
He did not say anything about losing rights. He was simply quoting the author, who also said nothing about losing rights. If you had bothered to read the article, you would have known that.
It's right there in the title, Ed. We don't "reclaim" rights that we don't claim to have lost.
Oh, now, the author doesn't elaborate. Likely because he hasn't really lost any rights, and would therefore look like a dishonest whiner. But he makes the claim (unsubstantiated) because it's what people want to hear. I think we all know that there are people who love to believe they're persecuted.
And we all know there are people who make claims for victimhood.
Of course they do. Often, they are the victims of their own lack of knowledge, and blame others for what they have done to themselves.
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How in the world did this become about cancel culture, or cancelling of you, specifically. I am unaware of any of your articles being "canceled" by anyone other than yourself (repeatedly).
On the whole not only is conservative media often incorrect it is often deliberately incorrect
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I think you are on the wrong seed. Are you asking about the story the leftist media refuses to report on?
I am talking about the story that conservative media is falsely reporting on
Oh good because never Trumper Rich Lowry did a nice piece on it.
Vic has long believed that Donald Trump tells. the truth. Gaslighting on an epic scale
That's right John, starting with him saying that he never colluded with Russia.
Donald Trump is the biggest liar in public life in American history this isn't even debatable
Rich Lowry is not never Trump
That's quite a retort.
Urban progressives…
I thought you watched Morning Joe? How many times has Lowry been on that show denouncing Trump?
The only thing one can say about Lowry is that he finally admitted that based on Trump's performance as President, Lowry was forced to give him an A.
"Never Trump" means never.
Rich Lowry has talked out of both sides of his mouth abut Trump for years. That is not "never" Trump by any stretch of the imagination.
Like so many other things, you dont know what 'never Trump' means.
Washington And Lincoln Call The American People To Reclaim Their Rights From Government
"How in the world did this become about cancel culture, or cancelling of you, specifically. I am unaware of any of your articles being "canceled" by anyone other than yourself (repeatedly)."
Another victim of something that isn't happening.
That link you provided proves it. Lowry doesn't like him but acknowledges the impact he had on the GOP. As I've told you many times, people have to be evaluated by the sum total of everything they've done. All things considered Donald Trump was exactly what the country needed. You see, John, that ideology of yours absolutely must be defeated or the world's oldest democracy will die a terrible death.
For Republicans it means a purity neither the party nor the country can afford. For others it simply means an irrational hate.
Think of that the next time you watch CNN, which I believe is currently the lowest rated news network on TV.
Anytime the federal government exceeds the enumerated powers allotted to it by the constitution it takes power away from the states and we the people.
In this article about Washington and Lincoln and their beliefs and accomplishments?
Someone who says "I really don't like Trump , but " is not a never Trumper.
Period.
Trump was never the topic of the seeded article. Any fair minded objective observer could see that. Take it somewhere else.
He lacks the hate?
Please point to where on the doll that those secular progressive hurt you today. Do you see secular progressives in the room with you now or in your dreams?
Read the article and find out.
She won't.
I know…
What rights have we lost ? simple question
Didn't Biden try and force private sector workers to get vaccinated?
Are we free to travel on the subway in safety?
How about the right to a secure border?
People have the right to get vaccinated or not. A lot of them didn't
Countless people ride the subway in safety every day
People have been crossing the southern border for decades. Did you complain about losing your freedom when it happened under Republican Administrations?
Said the Supreme Court AFTER Joe Biden tried using OSHA to deny that right. BTW anytime a person's job is involved, it is a denial of rights.
Countless people ride the subway in safety every day
There are incidents every day John. So many that some people here don't think they're newsworthy.
People have been crossing the southern border for decades.
They were never simply allowed in until now. I figure 2 million entered in 2021.
You believe so many things that are false it is better to just assume you are wrong and work backwards from there.
You really need to stop working backwards.
None that I know of, and to quote Søren Kierkegaard: “People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use."
"The left is not necessarily aiming at totalitarianism. But their know-it-all mindset leads repeatedly and pervasively in that direction, even if by small steps, each of which might be called "micro-totalitarianism."....Thomas Sowell
Both sides have their bands of know-it-alls. Do get back to me when you realize this simplest of 'mysteries' that has come to define partisanship.
Oh, now it's both sides? Trudeau has just declared martial law.
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Terrorizing?? You keep using that word and I don't think it means what you think it means.
From the land of martial law…
To end an illegal blockade of international free trade. I can still openly call him an asshole.
“Something Popped Yesterday”: Ottawa Residents Are Pushing Back Against The Anti-Mandate Protesters Controlling Their Downtown
This public backlash is sparked in part by reports of concerts, hot tubs, and bouncy castles in the downtown core occupied by protesters against the vaccine mandate. One group of residents crowded the street to blockade a convoy of around 20 cars and pickup trucks in southern Ottawa, holding it up for several hours.
“The straw broke last night. The patience of our various communities broke,” said Joel Harden, the provincial representative for Ottawa Centre. He said the anti-protest blockade came together on community Facebook groups usually dedicated to organizing cookouts, dog walking, and kid meetups.
“I hope the convoy knows they’re not welcome in our city anymore. They made their point; it’s time to go,” he said.
Sowell was right about that.
Lol! I suppose the Ukrainians who were starving called Stalin and asshole and died with a sense that you were on their side...sort of.
Let's see....The press calls Trump a Fascist for opposing violent riots, but Trudeau’s a hero for treating peaceful protesters like terrorists
He may have got a lot of tickets here.
Wrong protesters, wrong cause….our friends are actual peaceful protesters. Biden/Trudeau are fascists.
Trudeau said their views are unacceptable.
He did say that. I’m proud to hold views Trudeau and Brandon deem unacceptable.
That's the mentality we're up against.
It is and I thoroughly enjoy flouting, calling out, mocking that mentality at every opportunity.
I can’t believe that in this time of government pandemic induced overreach of emergency powers that that question was even asked.
There's no answer to that because they've lost nothing.
We are currently on the verge of and at risk of losing everything real American Patriots and we the people hold dear.
Everything?????????
Such as?
You've named NOTHING that you've lost, are on the verge of or at risk of - LOSING. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
What makes YOU/WE a real American Patriot?
So what is your definition of a real American patriot?
Inquiring minds want to know!
I don't expect a reasonable answer because she herself probably does not know the answer.
You are right!
My definition of a patriot is someone who loves their country dearly right or wrong in war or peace. A patriot is willing to defend their country and way of life, even at the cost of their own life. I am a patriot in that respect. I raised my right hand and took a solemn oath to defend and uphold the Constitution of The United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. I took that oath willingly and no one has ever relieved me of said oath. I put my life on the line day in day out for 20 years that included two wars. I am no hero and nobody special, but I stood up and served honorably where many would not.
You are both a hero and a special person….