
Like many of you, I am glad to see this turbulent year come to an end—until I think about the massive storm called “2016,” which is fast approaching.
When ships sailed stormy seas, or lost their way in a dense fog, captains always knew that beacons from lighthouses along the shorelines would help guide the crew to safe waters.
For many generations through political and social upheavals—famines and genocides, revolutions and civil wars, world wars and a cold war—people around the globe took comfort that there was a beacon in the storm: the United States of America–U.S. But as we turn from the turbulence of 2015 toward the gathering storm of 2016, frustrated questions keep floating through the fog from Bangor, Maine to Bangladesh: Where is the beacon? Is the Lighthouse still there?
We could spend the next year arguing ad nauseam through the storm over whose fault it is that the beacon can’t be seen by anyone anymore—there is enough blame to fill an ocean. But if we are to get to 2017 and beyond without a major shipwreck, we must fix the Lighthouse and relight the beacon. Simply put, the world needs a functional and rational U.S. to lead it through this storm. And to have a functional and rational U.S., we have to reassert self-responsibility for our own lives, health and security, and for that of our families, our neighborhoods, and our states; so that we have the resources needed to fix the Lighthouse and relight that beacon.
Then, we have to muster the courage to turn the beacon back “on”—and keep it lit through the coming storms.
The worst part about all of our self-centered actions that have enabled the squalls and turbulence to continue to batter our society over the many decades, is that we have wasted so much time and squandered so many resources and goodwill—with little social capital left with which to engage in the serious work of preserving our society of free people, and maintaining and modernizing that Lighthouse.
It’s time to put aside the childish desires, envies and pursuits—and the Chicken-little fears of a computer-modeled future—that have distracted us for too long, and to get back to the hard job of rebuilding a serious nation of free people from the individual to Washington.
There is still time, but the storm is getting closer.
Here’s to hoping that at the end of 2016 we can look back from calm seas and again see the beacon lighting the way for future generations. I believe that is the greatest Christmas gift we could wish for each other this year.
Merry Christmas Ed!
As long as the lighthouse is illuminating us by the Word of God and the Gospel as was proposed in the early colonies, then I am for it.
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
January 14, 1639
FORASMUCH as it hath pleased the Allmighty God by the wise disposition of his diuyne pruidence so to Order and dispose of things that we the Inhabitants and Residents of Windsor, Harteford and Wethersfield are now cohabiting and dwelling in and vppon the River of Conectecotte and the Lands thereunto adioyneing; And well knowing where a people are gathered togather the word of God requires that to mayntayne the peace and vnion of such a people there should be an orderly and decent Gouerment established according to God, to order and dispose of the affayres of the people at all seasons as occation shall require; doe therefore assotiate and conioyne our selues to be as one Publike State or Comonwelth; and doe, for our selues and our Successors and such as shall be adioyned to vs att any tyme hereafter, enter into Combination and Confederation togather, to mayntayne and prsearue the liberty and purity of the gospell of our Lord Jesus wch we now prfesse, as also the disciplyne of the Churches, wch according to the truth of the said gospell is now practised amongst vs; As also in or Ciuell Affaires to be guided and gouerned according to such Lawes, Rules, Orders and decrees as shall be made, ordered & decreed, as followeth:
http://lonang.com/library/organic/1639-foc/
Ed, all the best to you and yours.
But there is no lighthouse. We are in a post-constitutional society with no constraints on govt overreach and abuse. Our ‘champions’ on the hill have sold us out. Is it time for direct action?
As long as constitutional conservatives such as Ted Cruz and Mike Lee have a voice, there is still hope. The grassroots may need to endure more shock and awe before they get re-energized, but I am confident that will happen as well.
Lane, we see a lot political mail come across our print desk. These same people voting us down the river are sending out postcards and push cards that are nothing more than fictional accounts of their conservative bona-fides. They know that most of the voters don’t pay attention and those of who do don’t have an alternative to vote for anyway.
Ed, nice metaphor, U.S. as a lighthouse. Will chew on that awhile along with some left over cherry pie and cool whip.. Happy New Year.