By Harland W. Miller A unique, one of a kind nation, like no other that has ever been, the U. S. Government was founded by and for the people. In no other nation do the people establish the government. The government of few nations is representative of the viewpoints, character and morals of the general populace. Most other forms of government are an extension of the military, a ruling family or political party with a firm grip of control over the people. Riots and uprisings are the methods required to changes their leadership. We in America can freely control the governing powers over us. With this greater gift of freedom by our founding fathers comes greater responsibility. My seven year old daughter recently commented that adults are lucky because they can do whatever they wish. I explained that while this is true, with that freedom comes responsibility and accountability for our actions. America has been given great freedoms that enable her as a nation to do whatever she pleases. But with those great freedoms comes great responsibility and accountability to God and our fellowman. In the words of Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address, this nation is a government "by the people." Our Constitution begins with the declarative words, "We the people". Unlike most other governments, the U. S. government is a reflection of her people. The U. S. Government is by far the most generous government in the world. Millions upon millions of financial aid have been given to other nations through gifts, forgiveness of debt and disaster relief. A sense of national goodness rises in our hears when we hear of disaster relief that we have provided. We all feel the honor when our soldiers win a war. Every caring American feels a sense of satisfaction when we fight for human rights -- but the picture continues. The U. S. Government is also condemned for its corruption. Do we consider that governmental corruption is a reflection of the corruption in "we the people"? As the abuse of power, adultery and lies stare us in the face, the weight of freedom's responsibility becomes disturbingly uncomfortable. "We the people" becomes just "the people" as "We" avoid our accountability. It has become easy to neglect and ignore our national responsibility when faced with national accountability. The unavoidable truth is that we the people are nationally responsible for those whom we elect and, one day, individually accountable to God for our individual vote. As the yearly school pictures reveal a child's development, each election gives America her most recent self-portrait. Are we a people that overlooks our lying and winks at our adultery? Today, can we the people look at our self-portrait without conviction of wrongdoing? Are we willing to once again see the Almighty God as the only source of all goodness, or are we continuing to believe there is "no match for the strength and decency of the human spirit"? -- Inaugural Address of President William J. Clinton, January 20, 1997 On April 30, 1789, our first self-portrait revealed who we once were. At our first inaugural address, newly elected President George Washington said "... it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe... No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency... ...we ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained..." We are not accountable as a political party; we are accountable as a people. With the casting of our last vote, the last stroke of our brush will be made, and we the people will again see a self-portrait of who we've made ourselves to be. Copyright � 2000 Eternal Hope Ministries, Inc., P.O. Box 466, Ellerslie, MD 21529. www.ehope.com Not-for-profit use and/or reproduction of this material is encouraged, providing attribution is given and all copies are in its entirety. ===== Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3 NIV My four year old is an Ilizarov girl! http://www.bonejoints.com/ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? >From homework help to love advice, Yahoo! Experts has your answer. http://experts.yahoo.com/