Recently I received a book in the mail from a reader who was profoundly affected by the contents and thought I might find it of interest.
I found myself reading The Killing of Uncle Sam by Rodney Howard Browne and Paul L. Williams.
It is a scholarly work, thoughtful, provocative, heavily documented and an honest effort to assess where we are and what the future holds for this country.
Presently we are being assaulted by a barrage of information. Finding the truth presents a challenge. This is further complicated by the fact that we all perceive the truth differently according to our own personal experience. Presented with the same information we will reach different conclusions. We may go to the Bible or to the Constitution for moral authority but what we read will be shaped by thoughts and feelings previously acquired. In any religious or political group there are those who are “fundamentalists” and those who have a more relaxed point of view.
Further confusion arises with words such as “globalist, diversification, secularism, socialism, capitalism etc.” I see globalism as countries coming together to solve world problems. The authors of this book see “globalism” as a threat, a contrived strategy that undermines national interests and keeps us at war. I see diversification as a means to enrich our culture. They refer to it as “mongolization.” They see it as a breakdown of American values. They see secularism as “abandoning the Judeo Christian biblical foundation of the United States Constitution.” While the Constitution protects freedom of religion, Thomas Jefferson further clarified this idea by defining that there should be a “separation between church and state.”
One thing remains a puzzle for me. Conservatives ardently embrace Christianity. The message we are given by Christ in the New Testament is “the rich should take care of the poor, feed the hungry, and cure the sick.” If Jesus walked among us today he would be called a socialist!
The writers conclude they would like to see a new generation educated for “higher office” at Christian schools, that “righteousness” can prevail and that “Uncle Sam can be restored to health but only by one person. His name is Jesus.”
I’m not sure if the authors of this book mean to exclude people who are Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. The message of “love thy neighbor” exists in other religions besides Judaism and Christianity.
In reading this book we can share the authors concern for the growing divide between rich and poor. Many Americans are living with anxiety and fear. They see security, justice and opportunity slipping away as wealth and power remain in the hands of a few financiers and industrialists who are motivated by greed. Money tends to corrupt those who are in power. Instead of a government “of the people,” our government is controlled by a few who use money to buy influence with legislators. They own TV networks, news publications, control curriculum in schools and universities and establish “think tanks.” Faith alone will not change what is happening. Faith must be accompanied by reason and the will to act.
While I appreciate the experience that our older politicians bring to our government, I am looking for new leadership. Young men and women who have grown up with technology. There is a tendency to think of national security in terms of military might and strategies that served in the past. If we hope to meet the challenges of the future we need leaders with a knowledge of science and that understand the threat posed by cyber technology. We need to put less money into making bombs and more into education, healthcare and infrastructure.