Volume 9, Issue 45
Individually, we are spiritually thankful for family, health, friends, and dignity in purpose. Collectively we are thankful for freedom, opportunity, cultural respect, and security. We often think of these distinct spheres as separate attributions when, in fact, they are concentric.
Of all the things that divide us as a people in America, there is little morally or economically (other than paying taxes) that we are forced to do by law against our beliefs. Every issue of contention can be generally summarized as a law or policy that allows or restricts someone else to do something against one’s personal convictions. But that belief held strongly individually is not compromised personally by direct government edict. We each have a choice to decide the standard of our own moral compass.
This is not the situation in many other countries.
In the United States and in most democracies, protection of freedom is the purpose of measure for a government. Constitutional rights are paramount over government power. The collective freedoms we enjoy are critical to the individual blessing of nurturing family bonds. In totalitarian countries, the family unit is a threat to the state’s power. Freedoms are restricted in deference to the state’s purpose impacting the individual family blessing in exact opposite negative ratio as compared to a free society. One builds up the blessing of family and the other interferes with the blessing of family.
Collective freedom is essential to the foundation of individual blessing.
This connection between collective rights and individual blessings is the essence of the reasoning foundational to the Declaration of Independence of the United States. All rights come from God. They are inalienable. They are interwoven in the structure of mankind and government for the purpose of receiving God’s individual blessing.
Yes, there is conflict, particularly in the marketplace between religious rights and individual rights. However, in America, these rights are seen as equally inalienable in the Constitution. The government’s position or compelling state interest in competition with individual constitutional rights are of lesser importance. In totalitarian states, no individual rights are paramount.
The Thanksgiving holiday in the United States is the beginning of the “Season of Grace.” For people of religious belief, it is the preface of the four weeks of Advent. It is the beginning of the time of year wherein the spirit of giving and receiving grace encourages and nurtures the munificence of the human spirit. Thanksgiving is the embodiment of humility, recognizing that we need grace to thrive and reach the full potential of our personal destiny.
By being thankful, we acknowledge that we need each other in support of our pursuit of happiness.
This Thanksgiving, in our moments of reflection, may we be mindful that being thankful individually and collectively is knowing that the gifts of inalienable rights and constitutional government are equally imperative in fully receiving grace-filled blessings.
May God bless our families and America.
My name is Marc Nuttle and this is what I believe.
What do you believe?