It Is As We Will (standard:Editorials, 1687 words)
Author: J. P. St. Julian	Added: Apr 23 2016	Views/Reads: 2294/1497	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
American society is abuzz with the political ramifications of the upcoming presidential elections, and who should be chosen as president of the United States and leader of the free world. Also there is much complaining among the citizenry about the state

These days we hear so much complaining about the government, politics,
corporate greed, legalized abortion, the environment, and myriad other 
social and secret evils in this country. But no one ever stops to think 
about why there are problems with all these institutions, and why our 
individual liberties and freedoms are being eroded. This country was 
formed well over 200 years ago on the promise that it was for the 
people, of the people, and by the people. That being the case, and if 
the people are truly the ones who dictate what will be, why do we have 
all these problems which are plaguing the people? If the people are the 
ones who say how it will be, why would they let things get this far? 

I'd like to tell you a story that I heard told when I was a young man in
my late twenties. It was in a political science class given by an 
instructor with the Georgia Military College. The class was about the 
forming of a Republic, and what that entails. Here goes: 

An old hermit lived in a small village in the mountains of Virginia; he
was a wise old man—gifted with that rare insight that some men seem to 
possess. He had never attended a university, nor had he even graduated 
from a high school, but acquired his wisdom and knowledge through close 
contact with nature and the God of heaven. 

The old wise man was generally respected by the people in the village,
and even some of the brightest sometimes sought his counsel on things 
dealing with life. There were several young boys of the village who 
laughed at the old patriarch, and rudely pointed at him as they passed 
by. One of the boys said, “I know how we can fool him. I'll take a bird 
in my hand, and I'll hold it so he can just peek through my fingers and 
I'll ask him what it is.” 

“How can that fool him?” asked one other boy, “Surely he will know it's
a bird!” 

“Yes, of course he will know” said the first boy, “but when he answers,
I'll ask him, ‘Is it dead or alive?'” 

The other boy frowned and said, “How will that fool him? You're not
making any sense.” 

Then the first boy said, “Simple. If he guesses it'd dead, then I will
open my hands and let the bird fly away. If he says it's alive, then I 
will crush it.” 

After having a chuckle between them, the set off to find the old man,
and they did find him, sitting at the door of his little hut. 

“Old man,” said the boy, “I have a question. What is in my hand?” he
asked as he pushed his hand forward, fingers spread. 

“Well, my son, it looks like a bird you have caught,” said the old man. 

“Right,” said the boy. “Now, is it alive or dead?” 

The old man fixed a disappointing gaze on the boy for a long moment, and
then he said, “The fate of this small bird is as you will have it, my 
son. It is as you will have it.” 

Just as in the story, I submit that the fate of the United States of
America, is as we would have it. The great eagle of individual liberty 
was captured long ago, and placed in our hands. Too many of us have 
milked the freedom we enjoy for all its worth, to satisfy individual 
greed (especially the 1%). Now, it is as we will. We can crush it to 
death, or starve it . . . and it will surely die. Or we can love it, 
feed it, and watch it fly! It is as we will. 

At the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Dr. James McHenry
(a Maryland delegate) and Benjamin Franklin were leaving Independence 
Hall together on the final day of deliberation. Dr. McHenry turned to 
Benjamin Franklin and asked, “Well doctor, what have we got—a Republic 
or a Monarchy?”  Dr. McHenry's notes from the time states that Benjamin 
Franklin replied, “A Republic, if you can keep it.” 

It is as we will. 

Another good example is fertilizer. It can be used to enrich the soil


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