The Roman Empire was one of the greatest, most influential civilizations in world history. Its demise began internally with moral erosion and ended externally with military invasions. In about half the time of the Roman Empire, America has become the greatest civilization ever, yet we haven’t learned from the past.
Alexander Fraser Tytler (1747-1813), a Scottish historian, said: “The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: from bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from great courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to selfishness; from selfishness to apathy; from apathy to dependence; from dependence back into bondage.”
Today, nearly two-and-a-half centuries later, America is somewhere between apathy and dependence. We fought a war with England to gain our freedom and then founded America upon Judeo-Christian principles. The “land of the free and home of the brave” has been blessed with abundant prosperity. Sadly, selfishness and apathy have crept into our culture and now capitalism is being threatened by socialism—a failed system that makes its citizens reliant upon government instead of God and hard work.
America’s moral lapse accelerated in the early 20th century when progressive ideas spread throughout academia, politics, and the entertainment industry. The media replaced journalistic ethics with bias and dishonesty. Possessions, pleasure, power, and pride became higher priorities than the pursuit of our Creator.
King Solomon, known for his wisdom, sought these same earthly desires and, at the end of his life, lamented that it was all “meaningless—like chasing the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 4:4) The good news: Solomon repented and returned to the wisdom he'd ask God to grant him earlier in his life. Like Solomon, America needs to return to its founding principles or surely dependence and bondage will follow.
Alas, far-left Democrats are hell-bent on turning America into a socialistic nation. Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and many other radicals want to gut our private health insurance plans and provide free, government-run healthcare to everyone. They want free college education. They want open borders and rights for illegal immigrants. They support unlawful sanctuary cities. They want to trample on our second amendment right to bear arms.
They want to implement an unaffordable, unsustainable, and unrealistic “Green New Deal” that would send our energy bills soaring and bankrupt America. They want to enlarge the U.S. Supreme Court with activist justices. They love abortion-on-demand and same-sex “marriage.” They crave more onerous regulations and higher taxes. I could go on, but the bottom line is bigger government and less personal liberty, including the loss of free speech and religious freedom.
My fellow citizens, if you don’t believe the American dream can become a socialistic nightmare, think again. Many mighty empires have fallen over the centuries due to selfishness, apathy, complacency, and ignorance. Speak up. Write letters. Make calls. Protest peacefully. Become educated and share the truth with others. Vote. Demand accountability from these so-called public servants. Most critically, pray for America.
Dick Biggs
Georgia
