Elements of Freedom: By LaVaughn Landry

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FREEDOM IS A CHOICE

Alexander Hamilton:

It seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide this important question...Are societies of men truly capable or not...of establishing good government…by either reflection or by choice…or Are they forever destined to depend upon accident and force for their political constitutions?

Conclusion:
Freedom is a choice...and certainly comes by no accident.  Any government under which any people live…eventually is a result of the choosing of the people of that country.  We lose our ability to live free…when we unwisely choose to depend upon the force of political institutions to decide for us how we are to live...what we are to believe...and even what we are to say! 

 FREEDOM IS ONLY SECURED WITH INTEGRITY

Alexander Hamilton:

A further reason for caution, in this respect, might be drawn from the reflection that we are not always sure that those who advocate the truth are influenced by purer principles than their antagonists. Ambition, avarice, personal animosity, party opposition, and many other motives, not more laudable than these, are apt to operate as well upon those who support…as much as those who oppose…the right side of a question.

Conclusion:
Truth can be recognized by many…but only properly implemented and maintained by those of a pure motive! Any society will lose its freedom, once its leadership becomes corrupt, and its motives to lead are driven by something other than a desire to preserve the freedom of its people.  "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." Benjamin Franklin

 FREEDOM IS BUILT UPON PRINCIPLES…NOT POPULARITY

Alexander Hamilton:

History will teach us that the former has been found a much more certain road to the introduction of despotism than the latter, and that of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the peoplecommencing demagogues, and ending tyrants.

Conclusion:
Freedom is not found in leadership hypocritically declaring the importance that the government to protect the “rights of the people” making them depend upon that government…but rather in building a firm foundation of government that protects the “liberty of the people” to create a free and prosperous country.  A free people destroys the possibility of tyranny…but one courted by a power hungry government pandering to its society on the basis of individual rights…enables a forceful and oppressive government!

FREEDOM CAN ONLY BE MAINTAINED THROUGH UNITY

John Jay

The number of wars which have happened or will happen in the world will always be found to be in proportion to the number and weight of the causes, whether REAL or PRETENDED, …. If this remark be just, it becomes useful to inquire whether so many JUST causes of war are likely to be given by UNITED AMERICA as by DISUNITED America; for if it should turn out that United America will probably give the fewest, then it will follow that in this respect the Union tends most to preserve the people in a state of peace with other nations.

Conclusion:
As long as we as people live bound to this world, and continue to be subject to the struggles within its confines…it is only wise to note that where there are a people enjoying freedom, peace, and prosperity…there will always arise against it those who live according to different principles…and whose hate and envy of this prosperity will automatically drive them against such a people.  Therefore, it is obvious and firmly concluded that the stronger our unity exists…the greater deterrent against these enemies will it provide…and the greater liberty we will enjoy.  However, the opposite is true when we oppose one another.  When our unity is broken…the hearts of our enemies will be emboldened! 

Therefore, freedom cannot be maintained…without maintaining a great civility towards one another…and a common commitment to our overall unity!    In the end…all demagogues…always sacrifice liberty and unity for power…and in the end…we the people are heirs of neither! 

Albert Einstein: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again...expecting different results.”  America was an effort to break that cycle...and to form a new nation based on common truths...truths which had become self-evident through clear observation of past history...and a bold initiative to break away from those old and dysfunctional forms of government...government which only generated tyranny and oppression for its citizens...to form a new nation whose single goal was to preserve the peace, prosperity, and freedom of its people...and that of many other generations to come!