When I published the first entry to America Restored, I was inspired by the men who wrote the Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers. For this reason, the very first words I put on our website were “the new Federalist papers”. The Federalists and Anti-Federalists both loved liberty, and had differing opinions on what would be best to secure it, but both had amazing insights and ideas that have taught thousands of us today. The Federalists ultimately won the debate and because of this we were given our Constitution today. The Anti-Federalist papers had just as many, if not more good ideas and incredible principles, but the reason I chose to call America Restored the new Federalist papers, is because the Federalists stood up for the Constitution, which is what we are trying to do today.

If we will support the Constitution at all times, then it will be the key for us to restore liberty. An amazing teacher of mine, Joe Wolverton, repeatedly declares, “The Constitution. Every issue. Every time. No exceptions. No excuses. No respecter of persons.” We cannot simply pick and choose when we will and will not support this document; we must be constantly fighting for it. The Constitution draws the barriers between government, and tyranny. Once someone takes a power that is not expressly given to them in the Constitution, it is an act of tyranny and must be put to an end immediately. We cannot expect those governing over us to stay within their bounds unless we stop them from doing so. Any unconstitutional act must be stopped, no matter what sacrifices we have to make, otherwise, it continues to grow. This is why America Restored was started in the first place. Eighteen months ago, I decided I was not going to sit back and watch people continue to step outside the boundaries of the Constitution without doing anything. Stand up, and don’t allow the tyranny to continue to grow. It has been let out and the only way we can trap it again is by forcing it back within its constitutional cage. We have been, and will continue to strive to become the New Federalist papers by supporting the Constitution with “every issue. Every time. No exceptions and no excuses.”

Yours truly,

Publius

As Thanksgiving approaches I would like to again emphasize the importance of gratitude. I realize that I often write about what we are lacking, but it is important to remember that we still have so much for which we should be grateful. I once heard the question, if tomorrow you had only what you were thankful for today, what would you have left? Too often we forget to be grateful for the small things, as well as some of the big things we have had for so long that we tend to take them for granted. Henry David Thoreau boldly declared, “I am thankful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.” When we recognize all that we have, our hearts are filled with gratitude and humility. We are then filled with the desire to help others who don’t have what we do, so that they may feel the joy and gratitude we feel. Be grateful for all the mistakes you have made, they have made you better. Be grateful for the hardships you have endured, they have made you stronger. Be grateful for the joy you have felt, it will keep you going. Be grateful for those who fought for you in the past. Be grateful for those who do so now, who help you and lift you up. Be grateful for your knowledge, for most people live their whole lives without knowing what you know. Be grateful for the liberty you do have, because you can use it to obtain more liberty. Be grateful for your virtue, because you can use it to become more virtuous and help others do the same. I am grateful for these things. I am grateful for each page of every book that has given me knowledge. I am grateful for every teacher I have had that has done likewise. I am so beyond grateful that I know of the principles of liberty and tyranny, and for the means by which I can share it with others. I know that if we are grateful for what we have now, we will have the desire to accomplish so much more.

Yours truly,

Publius

On May 29, 1940, J. Reuben Clark, Jr. gave an address entitled “Why I Am an American”, in this address, he reiterated what countless patriots have declared before him, he said, “I am an American because I believe in a government of laws and not of men… I am an American because I believe that government must derive its ‘just powers from the consent of the governed’… I am an American because I believe in the greatest possible measure of self-government…I am an American because I believe that the destiny of America is to be an abiding place of liberty.” Many people today pride themselves on being an American because of the freedom we have; however, though we may have more freedom than many other places, we are still enslaved by the chains of tyranny, even though are chains may be longer. Being an American does not simply mean you live in America, being a true American or patriot means standing up for your liberty, and working to break the chains that enslave you. We have an obligation to obey the government when it abides by the Constitution, but when it doesn’t, we do not have to, and should not support it. Being a true American means not allowing a tyrant to take your freedom, we just fight for our liberty, and only then can we be called patriots.

I am an American because I love my country. I am an American because I value virtue and liberty. I am an American because I believe that we can never truly be free unless the government we have chosen abides strictly by the Constitution.

I am an American because I believe that we are not yet completely free, but I am fighting to get there. I am an American because I believe that liberty is important today, and that we need to fight for it. I am an American because I believe that one day, we will have liberty, and I am an American because I will never settle for anything less.

Yours truly,

Publius

Why does it seem so hard to open up and truly talk to people? Sure, we can easily engage in simple conversation about how the day has gone, or even deeper subjects about personal feelings and desires, but it seems like everyone tries to avoid talking about subjects that could possibly have the greatest impact. If you were casually talking to a friend and then brought up the principles of liberty and tyranny, they might just think you were crazy. It almost seems as if people have deemed these principles “old fashioned” and no longer relevant to us today, but today they are still essential for personal peace and virtue. When I first began learning of liberty, I must admit I felt uncomfortable. We have been taught for so long that we are completely free, and it can be hard for us to wrap our minds around the idea that we are actually chained by tyranny; we try to push the thought away, while instead we need to embrace it so we can change it. Patrick Henry was one who spoke with so much power, despite the criticism he sometimes endured because of it. He declared, “Perhaps an invincible attachment to the dearest rights of man, may, in these refined enlightened days, be deemed old fashioned: if so, I am contended to be so.” Just as Patrick Henry was not afraid to declare the importance of liberty, we cannot be afraid to do the same. These principles are so important for us to learn today and once we learn them, it is even more important for us to teach them to everyone else. Do not be afraid to teach others these principles. Help others learn how to understand what you are saying and what the founding fathers were really fighting for. Shout what you know to be true and don’t be afraid of what others will think, say, or do because of it. Liberty always has, and always will be important, and we should never be afraid to say so. 

Yours truly,

Publius