The Ideals Have Gone

Where have all the Ideals Gone.

Wikipedia defines ‘Idealism’ by the following:
‘Idealism also refers to a tradition in Western thought that represents things in an ideal form, or as they ought to be rather than as they really are, in the fields of ethics, morality, aesthetics, and value.‘

Webster’s Dictionary has this to say:
‘relating to or constituting mental images, ideas, or conceptions’

In other words, the word Ideal means to refer to a previously achieved quality of a thing, or the standard that has not yet been achieved.

With respect to our country and the people who live in it, I believe America is comprised of wonderful people who truly desire to live a life that is significant, who work to be good and caring people, who have a healthy belief system of right and wrong.  With respect to an ideal, I believe a quality and standard of community and civil responsibility was handed down to us from our founding fathers who gave up much of their personal convenience, wealth, and – for some – their very lives to bring America and it’s ideal standard of freedom, justice, strength and character into being.

Above I wrote the following ‘a previously achieved quality of a thing’
With respect to America, I believe today we have shifted from the ideals that our forefathers had.

• They believed in a people of freedom who could worship God the way they longed to – without government intervention.
  To them, ‘seperation of Church and State’ was in order to keep the government out of the Church, and not the Church out of the government.
• They believed that the government was for the people and by the people. That government should serve the people and not the other way around.
• They believed in a people of strength and character and gave them the rights to many freedoms that have now slowly been taken away from them.
• They believed in a people who could be self governed with an eye towards social justice ahead of the cost of convenience.

I also wrote of ‘the standard that has not yet been achieved’.

• I believe we in America have the perfect opportunity to arise again and become the leaders in the world that God founded us for.
• I believe we can again become the harbor for the alien, the foreigner, and the weary.
• I believe we can make changes to have a government that serves the people and not one of enforced servitude.
• I believe we can raise up a standard of morality, and justice, liberty and freedom without compromising any individuals freedom.
• I believe we can have a youth culture that is not spiraling out of control, but is ready to take control as the imerging generation.
• I believe we can be a beacon of hope for the passing generation in all nations that their lives were not lived in vain and they have been listened to – no ground has been lost.
• I believe we can be a source of strength and confidence to all who look for a protector and defendor, a helping hand in time of need.
• I believe we can be a trusted ally even when doing so could come at great cost.  Friendship and loyalty demand it.
• I believe in many other great things about our country and our people…

However, I believe that no ideal is worth having, and no ideal is attainable without a transformation of our individual and national soul to God Almighty who created us.
America needs an awakening and I believe we will see the following verse fulfilled in our lifetime:

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

- Bill NeSmith