Rev. Dr. Vahan H. TootikianBY REV. DR. VAHAN H. TOOTIKIAN
Another Fourth of July has come and gone. Like the past years, there were noisy celebrations, outdoor picnics, softball games, and speeches by politicians. There were also fireworks which reminded us that on July 4th we like to tell the world, and one another, too, that we made a free country on this day in 1776.
Undoubtedly, the Fourth of July is the pre-eminent holiday of the United States of America when as citizens we tally up the points of the past and consider all we have to be thankful for. But there is nothing wrong and everything right on the glorious Fourth of July to stop for a moments to say, “Not everything in our country is right; there are things which are wrong and need to be changed.”
As I see it, the following are but a few things that are wrong and bothersome and in my humble opinion need to be changed.
The first thing that I find bothersome and that needs to be changed is the misconception of many Americans as to what freedom is. On July 4, 1776, the proclamation of our twin and inseparable heritage was issued: Liberty and independence. Liberty, or freedom, in all its forms and manifestations, is the cornerstone of this nation.
What is freedom? How free is our freedom? Increasingly, more and more citizens of our country misunderstand what freedom is. Freedom is an empty word if it means absence from restraint and authority. Freedom is dangerous without discipline and responsibility. In fact, there is no freedom without the discipline of order in our homes, schools, in our society, and in our country. Freedom does not mean avoidance of responsibility and elimination of constraints to do one’s own thing without any regard to the effects on oneself, others, or society at large.
A great deal of inappropriate behavior, minor and major crimes in our country, are attributed to the misuse and abuse of freedom, such as offensive language, indecent behavior, vandalism, destroying ancient landmarks, statues of historic personages, burning and destroying public and private properties, drug abuse, child abuse, human trafficking, sex exploitation, pornography and many other crimes.
The Fourth of July symbolizes a commitment to freedom. Keeping that freedom is both our challenge and our responsibility.
The second thing that I find bothersome and that needs to be changed is our government’s spending beyond its means. At the present time, the U.S. government is spending in excess of its revenues. Its debts are covered by issuing freshly printed currency not backed by silver or gold. This results in watering down the value of existing currency.
This country is taking care of millions of its citizens and alien residents who are on welfare rolls, most of whom have legitimate needs. There are some, however, who are exploiting the system. They are receiving benefits they are not entitled to. Still there are many more who are illegal aliens who have been beneficiary, and who have never contributed to the social security program.
Increasingly, people are encouraged to go to Washington to get money for their cities, and they get it if they follow the guidelines of the government. We have reached a point in our country where people look for the federal government to solve all sorts of problems. And then people complain about inflation. It is the government which is creating inflation because it spends beyond its means.
The third thing that I find bothersome and that needs to be changed is the temptation of some people to enjoy the benefits of citizenship without assuming any responsibility. On the back of every right, there is a responsibility. Every privilege carries with it a responsibility. Life is based on the principle of give-and-take. There are those who are always on the receiving end. The ultimate purpose of their lives is self-serving comfort. Their lives are built on the philosophy that America owes them; therefore, their lives are spent in getting what they can.
Harry Emerson Fosdick, one of the giant preachers in the 20th century, preached a sermon several years ago entitled, “Parking on Another Man’s Nickel.” (Obviously, the sermon was preached years ago. Where can one park for a nickel today?)
The idea is still sound, however. You come to a parking place that has a meter. Someone else has already inserted a coin. Happily there is still time on the meter. This must be your lucky day. You pull in and park on someone else’s nickel, or quarter or whatever.
Fosdick went on to say that some people go all through life parking on someone’s nickel. This is particularly true of those who live in this free land, enjoying the benefits of those who have already paid in sweat, tears, and blood for that place. The temptation for these freeloaders is to enjoy their good fortune without feeling responsible to those who are around them or who come after them.
Last but not least, one of the most bothersome problems that need to be changed is America’s growing secularism and its diminishing religious faith. Historically, religious faith has always been characteristic of America; it was there in the beginning. The main reason why the Pilgrim Fathers came to America was spiritual. They were not able to find for themselves in Europe those spiritual values, such as freedom of thought and worship and therefore were willing to leave the security of their homeland and cross the stormy Atlantic to embark upon a new life in an unknown country where these values could be preserved for all generations to come.
Their descendants, the Founding Fathers of this Republic, with only a few exceptions, were believers in God and their religious faith was closely interwoven with their everyday life. The following illustration will suffice to explain my point.
The Declaration of Independence, the proclamation by the Second Continental Congress declaring the 13 American colonies politically independent from Great Britain, formally adopted on July 4, 1776, was ended with these words, “And for the support of this Declaration with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge!”
Today, what is happening to America? Unfortunately, the spiritual, moral, and ethical values of many Americans are disintegrating. The pursuit of pleasure, hedonism, and materialism has alienated many Americans from God. Secularism has infected the bloodstream of America with a deadly virus.
Do we need another revolution to change and rectify some of the above-mentioned defects? Yes, we certainly do. But not like the one we had in 1776; today, we need a revolution in the minds and hearts of the American people. We need a spiritual revival.
After the Second Continental Congress, Benjamin Franklin was walking down the street in Philadelphia when a lady asked him, “Well, Mr. Franklin what have we got—a republic or a monarchy?” His reply was, “A republic, Madam, if we can keep it.” With God’s help, we will be able to keep it, if we realize that this wonderful country is not perfect. It has its problems and shortcomings, and as responsible citizens we are called to rectify those problems and maintain the best of our heritage that is bequeathed to us.
Rev. Dr. Vahan H. Tootikian is the Minister Emeritus of the Armenian Congregational Church of Greater Detroit and the Executive Director of the Armenian Evangelical World Council.
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