Common sense used to be the backbone of our country. A father taught his son to be hardworking, honest, protective of family, respectful to neighbors, uphold his faith in God, and value his nation. A mother advised her daughter to engage in prayer, develop independent thinking, make ethical decisions, and take personal responsibility. She encouraged thoughtful reflection and actions guided by moral integrity.
Parents emphasized the importance of guiding their children in their upbringing, instilling values and wisdom that will last a lifetime. Parents believed proper training and direction can help their children stay on the right path as they grow older. This is a biblical principle taught in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
We did not need endless experts or political think tanks to explain that men are men, women are women, babies are God’s creation and deserve life, difference between equality and equity, God’s design of marriage not man’s, parental rights not progressive policies, and freedom means personal responsibility, not entitlements.
America was not founded on moral confusion or government dependency. The principles and values established during the founding of America reflected a commitment to liberty, justice, and self-governance, emphasizing that all individuals have inherent rights and should be treated equally under the law, with less focus on government.
Our founders did not risk their lives, shedding their blood, for a nation where children can change their gender before they legally become an adult, taking puberty blockers as early as 10 years old, enforcing unjust laws by the sword, where the criminal has more rights than the victim, or where government punishes success and rewards laziness.
The gradual decline of our moral sense shows that we have traded the truth about God and the intentions of our founders for falsehoods. Our perspective has become clouded, making it difficult to distinguish right from wrong.
When common sense and logic are disregarded, individual freedoms and self-governance cease to exist and chaos begins, where evil and government control take over. We see where our government told us our border was secure, while 15 to 20 million illegal aliens entered, including 300,000 children which were lost. Schools hide gender transitions from parents but punish kids for using the wrong pronoun. Law-abiding citizens are demoralized for owning guns while violent criminals get a slap-on-the-wrist with no accountability. Political persecution and assassination are becoming common while some want to legalize murder by simply calling it necessary. Authorities tell us our cities are safe while crime is rising and parents are afraid to let their children play outdoors. Riots are preventing law enforcement agencies from arresting criminals and evil organizations and people have issued cash rewards for the murder of our law enforcers. A war between good and evil is upon us.
God tells us in his word, 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.”
When we recognize that we cannot do everything on our own, we open the door to healing. As we think about our lives and the condition of our country, this recognition helps us pursue healing and work together toward restoring America. Together we can seek God’s mercy and grace and he will heal our nation.
God Bless America. Keep freedom alive.
Jim Coonrod is a Marine Corps veteran and an avid gardener. He lives in Collinsville.