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Kierkegaard said that life must be understood backward but
it must be lived forward.
This is a frustrating reality for all of us, and in
no field does it cause as much damage as freedom (except, perhaps, economics).
The history of freedom teaches clear lessons, but the reality of politics
generally ignores most of them.
We are told by Santayana to remember the past or repeat its
mistakes, but practical governance emphasizes future potentialities and rejects
the lessons of history--which can be interpreted in many ways.
But all of this actually reinforces the power of principles:
they are accurate through history, when applied today, and we can count on them
in the future. The principles of freedom do not change, only the circumstances
in which they are applied.
Thus the true experts on freedom are those who most
successfully implemented and spread freedom--particularly the generation of
Washington, Franklin, Adams, Jefferson and Madison.
We need a generation today that builds on their shoulders.
We need to know their histories and writings in depth, and we need to
understand what worked for them and what did not.
Unless we become citizen-readers who are steeped in the greatest writings of freedom, we cannot
expect to help freedom increase in our time.
The Federalist Papers may be the most important book in our nation's
political future. It is time for our generation to read it!
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Social Leader Daily by Oliver DeMille
