Posted on 12/23/2010 4:00:51 AM PST by Lucky Dog
"'Tis the season" as they say... But the season for what? ...Well, among many things, buying and wrapping gifts, decorating with silver bells, attending holiday parties flowing with good cheer, and gathering with family and friends for traditional music and fellowship.
These popular activities remind us of the true spirit of the season: that it is better to give than to receive. However, the one, really big, exception, and the real reason for the season, is that all of us have been offered the "Greatest Gift, ever." We have, merely, to accept it individually.
Beyond the religious implications of that "Greatest Gift, ever," it is also the underlying reason our nation exists today. The principle that every person stands before his or her Creator, uniquely responsible for his or her own decisions and actions with their consequences, spread with Christian teaching. That Christian tradition of individual freedom of choice and accompanying responsibility found political expression in our founding document, The Declaration of Independence:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
These noble words mean no citizen is ever born, classed as more, or less, entitled to the protections of the law than any other citizen. Likewise, an individual citizen is neither more, nor less, responsible for following the precepts of the law than any other citizen. This condition exists, as our founders noted, because each of us, individually, has "unalienable rights."
These endowments come from the Supreme Being. Consequently, no lesser power, such as a government bureaucrat, can ever rightfully curtail them. Unfortunately, there are some in government who, nonetheless, would try to do so.
In deed, some government bureaucrats think they know better than any citizen. It matters not whether the bureaucrats believe that they know how best to spend that citizen's money, choose his or her doctor, decide where his or her children should be educated or a host of other decisions that involve God-given rights. We cannot allow this interference with our individual gifts from God regardless of how enlightened and well meaning these bureaucrats might think themselves.
As we enter this blessed season of celebration, enjoying eggnog toasts, prettily decorated trees and gifts for each other, let us pause to remember, and be grateful for, all of God's gifts. First and foremost, let us rejoice in, and be grateful for, the advent of God's "greatest gift," Christ. However, let us also be protectively vigilant of, and thankful for, our unalienable rights.
Furthermore, let us not forget that while God freely bestowed these rights upon us, there are those who would steal them from us, if they could. Therefore, let us also be thankful for those who willingly serve in any capacity to protect our rights and, especially, for those who put themselves in harm's way.
Merry Christmas and God bless us every one.
John D. Ragan was elected Tennessee state representative for District 33 in November.
Amen!
Merry CHRIST-MASS.
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