The library wants me to bring The 5000 Year Leap back before I renew it for the 4th time.......and NO, I have not finished reading it YET. But what I have read I’ve enjoyed and I’ve learned a lot too.
FOR EXAMPLE:
- I learned about natural law and the influence great philosophers like Cisero had on the founding founders.
- I learned that before the Revolutionary War the American people feared that perhaps they didn’t have the moral capacity for self government. (In other words the willingness to sacrifice private interest for the good of community.)
- I also learned that the FIRST president of the United States was John Hanson, who served under the Articles of Confederation. But George Washington was the first president under the US Constitution.
- And while I have a rudimentary understanding of the 28 principles discussed in the book, I was not familiar at all with most of the quotes from our founding fathers, and they were truly enlightening!
So I’ve decided to return the book as requested to the St. George City Library and buy a copy of my own for our family library.....it’s that good! (Just not as easy, or as fun, to read as a novel.)
I believe that what our founding fathers achieved was truly a miracle. Because of their faith, wisdom, dedication and divine inspiration, they created a government based on the law of nature, that allowed people to be free from tyranny. I’m so grateful for them, and to them, and vow to be more diligent in protecting and preserving their dream, and my heritage as a citizen.
Below are some of my favorite quotes or notes from the book.
“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.” - Benjamin Franklin
“I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations... This danger ought to be wisely guarded against .” - James Madison
“It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” - Patrick Henry
“The government is best which governs least”- Thomas Jefferson
"WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty GOD, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour” - George Washington
And from my notes early on.......could be direct quotes, but I don't know who said them.
The law of Nature, or Nature's God, is eternal in its basic goodness; it is universal in its application. It cannot be altered – repealed – abandoned by legislators or the people – even though they may pretend to do so.
Justice is impossible except under the principles of God's just law.
Looking forward to your comments!
Grandma Mary is working on hers. I'll post them soon.
Our next read is Cotillion by Georgette Hyer.
This one should be a quick and easy read!
Below is a picture taken Memorial Day Weekend at the St. George City Cemetery of Uncle Paul's son Stephen, and Uncle Dick. If you try just a little you will see in them their fathers......walking side by side, telling the stories of our pioneer heritage as they lovingly placed flowers on the graves of those who went before. Those who did their part to honor, protect, and preserve these precious freedoms we so easily take for granted.
Hey Nat- I'm not exactly clear on what a constitution night is, Richie will have to explain it to me in more depth, but from what I understand, once a month his home-school group got together at night and had a big pot-luck of sorts and then they'd all discuss principles of the constitution. I think that's all... I'll have to ask him.
ReplyDeleteThe other day I watched a documentary on the public school system called "Waiting for Superman". Feel free to watch it if you want to be completely ticked off!! As I was watching it, I just kept thinking how all of these problems (and one million others) would all vanish if we just has a moral people. Just like the founding fathers said, "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom." It makes me a little bit nervous to tell the truth.
Soo...I tried reading this book a few times and found myself asleep after about 10 pages. We've got packers and movers in the house so my copy is going back to the library too! It reminds me of the textbooks I studied for my Political Science classes. The founding fathers were amazing both spiritually and intellectually.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that's been great about living in Charlottesville is that the homes of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe are all here. We've only been able to spend 10 months here but we made sure to tour all three of them. They were all such different men but had solid principles, accomplished wonderful things, and set a great example for all Americans. I think my favorite is actually James Monroe--he served in just about every government position, including President, to serve his country. He also fought under George Washington in the Revolutionary War.
Not sure if I'll get to Cotillion--we'll be traveling for a month and then arrive in Japan at the end of June. Maybe I can find a copy at a bookstore before we go.
Perhaps my favorite story in the book was about Eldridge Cleaver, who was the Minister of Information for the Black Panthers, and a strong believer in Marxism. He preached communism, often violently, and fled America in the late 1960's to live in Cuba and eventually in Russia. Eight years later, he and his wife asked for permission to return to the U.S., and they were no longer atheists or communists. He later preached to university students about the fraudulent fallacies of Marxism and communism, after only living it for eight years. What a great story!
ReplyDeleteGrandma Mary's comments:
ReplyDeleteWhile reading The 5000 Year Leap, I was very impressed with the comments Brother Skousen quoted from our Founding Fathers. I think we take too much for granted what they did for us–and I know they went thru tremendous struggles. They were indeed special spirits sent to earth at that time. I was especially impressed with James Madison's comments.
The 5000 Year Leap was an interesting read. There were several things I did not realize were a part of the history of our government, such as that originally many people were opposed to a three part governmental system and that the founders did not think it was a good idea to issue paper money because they thought that would lead to financial problems (perhaps similar to what we are seeing today . . .) I also thought it was interesting that the founders reasons for not wanting anything resembling a monarchy are very similar to what is in The Book of Mormon, for example when they change their government, King Mosiah cautions them not to have a king. He cautions that if they have a good king, it is beneficial to all, but a bad, greedy king destroys not only himself, but also many of his people. This is also mentioned in 5000 year leap, the dangers of one branch of government having too much power and using it to serve its own ends rather than for the good of the people.
ReplyDeleteFavorite Quote by Washintgon (farewell address) “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. “
Just as a quick update from my end, I thought the 5000 year leap was very interesting. However, I realized I never posted anything about it and now it's been 3 months (might as well be a lifetime for as much as I remember)!
ReplyDeleteOur library does not have the book Cotillion, so I may have to borrow Grandma's copy when I'm in St. George in a few weeks.
Hope everyone is doing well!