“A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.”
— Dwight Eisenhower 1890 – 1969)
American military officer & 34th President of the United States
I find myself continually stunned by the confidence and innocence of many (thankfully, not all) American young adults. Very often I hear them loudly and laughingly express disdain for the very things that built the foundation on which they have built their lifestyles and enjoy everything that freedom enables them to have and do. Their laughter at those whose values and thoughts differ from their own rings with condescension and borders on haughty. And yet I know these same young people would never want to think of themselves as being close-minded, intolerant, or unaware.
My wish is that they learn sooner rather than later to understand the dangers of taking America’s unique freedoms for granted. Interestingly, nations that have lost freedom, struggle long and mightily. Yet, they never regain true freedom. So, my prayer is for people to learn difficult truths without having to live them.
