“All great change in America begins at the dinner table.” ~ Ronald Reagan

Capitol or School Yard?

All great change in America
begins at the dinner table.”

~ Ronald Reagan ~

What is more central to a civilization, a culture than the family unit? The strength and design of the family defines the culture, and, as such, its future.

What is a Family?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a family is “a group of two or more people who reside together and who are related by birth, marriage, or adoption” (U.S. Census Bureau). This definition is clear and concise, however, it does not reflect the “extended” family which once again is growing in importance to the nuclear family. In today’s economy, many grandparents, aunts, & uncles are helping with household management, everything from moving home with parents and combining households to daycare help with small children. While it may be “hardship” that causes this change, in the long run, it is advantageous all around. Seniors once again have some purpose – tending children or helping with light household chores. Parents are free to work or run errands. Children have more adults around them to emulate, play with and gain attention from! Like spreading the load among more people, the weight becomes easier.

The belief that America is degenerating on a moral level is shared by both Republicans and Democrats. According to a new Gallup poll, 82 percent of Republicans and 78 percent of Democrats say that moral values in the U.S.A. are only fair or downright poor. 40 years ago, only 33 percent of Americans felt that way.

So what’s happened? First, secular forces have destroyed any rendering of Judeo-Christian philosophy in the public school system. Many teachers are now ordered not to make value judgments on behavior and not to push any specific moral standards. Thus children receive little if any moral guidance in class. READ ON

You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man’s initiative and independence.
~ Abraham Lincoln

“The left insists on its constructs, on isolating entire groups into neat categories of oppressed and oppressor, but it can only keep those categories alive by perpetuating their disempowerment in one way or another. Take Griggs v Duke Power Co, in which the Supreme Court held that it was racist for a company to ask for a high school diploma of its employees, because such a requirement had a disproportionate impact on minorities. Like many of the loonier Burger court decisions, this one was scaled back over time, but what of the idea behind it. That social justice involves lowering barriers for qualification, thereby discouraging ability and competence.” READ ON

Historical Figures weigh in on
the Importance of Morality or Character

Only a man’s character is the real criterion of worth. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. ~ Helen Keller

A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user. ~
Theodore Roosevelt

No change of circumstances can repair a defect of character. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. ~ Abraham Lincoln

Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today’s world do not have. ~ Ronald Reagan

Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness. ~ George Washington

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. ~ Abraham Lincoln

Each individual American is responsible
for their own behavior, attitudes, and words.
It’s time to rebuild America’s Moral Character!
Now or Never!

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American Interests

A Different Tack – Learning Virtue from Wise Tales

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"life lessons"

Tacking into the wind

Several years ago, I taught American and British literature to typical high school students who typically cared little for the subject. A few cared about the necessary “good grade” needed to get into the college or University of their choice, but mostly, it was ho-hum … until one day I brought in a few “morality tales” – otherwise known as fables, parables, or allegories! We read a few in class, talked about them and their meanings, then I assigned them to write one for the next day. It proved a very enlightening exercise.

I’m not writing any original stories here, just posting a few for ages gone by.

Androcles

A slave named Androcles once escaped from his master and fled to the forest. As he was wandering about there he came upon a Lion lying down moaning and groaning. At first he turned to flee, but finding that the Lion did not pursue him, he turned back and went up to him. As he came near, the Lion put out his paw, which was all swollen and bleeding, and Androcles found that a huge thorn had got into it, and was causing all the pain. He pulled out the thorn and bound up the paw of the Lion, who was soon able to rise and lick the hand of Androcles like a dog. Then the Lion took Androcles to his cave, and every day used to bring him meat from which to live. But shortly afterwards both Androcles and the Lion were captured, and the slave was sentenced to be thrown to the Lion, after the latter had been kept without food for several days. The Emperor and all his Court came to see the spectacle, and Androcles was led out into the middle of the arena. Soon the Lion was let loose from his den, and rushed bounding and roaring towards his victim. But as soon as he came near to Androcles he recognized his friend, and fawned upon him, and licked his hands like a friendly dog. The Emperor, surprised at this, summoned Androcles to him, who told him the whole story. Whereupon the slave was pardoned and freed, and the Lion let loose to his native forest.

And the moral is: Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

The Ass and the Lapdog

A MAN had an Ass, and a Maltese Lapdog, a very great beauty. The Ass was left in a stable and had plenty of oats and hay to eat, just as any other Ass would. The Lapdog knew many tricks and was a great favorite with his master, who often fondled him and seldom went out to dine without bringing him home some tidbit to eat. The Ass, on the contrary, had much work to do in grinding the corn-mill and in carrying wood from the forest or burdens from the farm. He often lamented his own hard fate and contrasted it with the luxury and idleness of the Lapdog, till at last one day he broke his cords and halter, and galloped into his master’s house, kicking up his heels without measure, and frisking and fawning as well as he could. He next tried to jump about his master as he had seen the Lapdog do, but he broke the table and smashed all the dishes upon it to atoms. He then attempted to lick his master, and jumped upon his back. The servants, hearing the strange hubbub and perceiving the danger of their master, quickly relieved him, and drove out the Ass to his stable with kicks and clubs and cuffs. The Ass, as he returned to his stall beaten nearly to death, thus lamented: “I have brought it all on myself! Why could I not have been contented to labor with my companions, and not wish to be idle all the day like that useless little Lapdog!”

And the moral is: To be satisfied with one’s lot is better than to desire something which one is not fitted to receive.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

The Crab and the Fox

A CRAB, forsaking the seashore, chose a neighboring green meadow as its feeding ground. A Fox came across him, and being very hungry ate him up. Just as he was on the point of being eaten, the Crab said, “I well deserve my fate, for what business had I on the land, when by my nature and habits I am only adapted for the sea?’

And the moral is: Contentment with our lot is an element of happiness.