The American’s Creed

Yes we do have one folks and it may shock you, but then again it may not. The USA is as far as I know the only Nation with a Creed. I must admit that I like the idea because in a couple paragraphs of text it sums up what the United States citizens can expect from their Government, and what the Government expects from them.

A Little History

The American’s Creed is a title of a resolution that was a result of a nationwide contest for writing a National Creed, which would be a brief summary of the American political faith founded upon things fundamental in American history and tradition. The contest was the idea of Henry Sterling Chapin, Commissioner of Education of New York State. Over three thousand entries were received, and William Tyler Page was declared to be the winner. James H. Preston, the mayor of Baltimore, presented an award to Page in the House of Representatives Office Building on April 3, 1918. The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the commissioner of education of the state of New York accepted the Creed for the United States, and the proceedings relating to the award were printed in the Congressional Record of April 13, 1918. It was a time when patriotic sentiments were very much in vogue. The United States had been a participant in World War I only a little over a year at the time the Creed was adopted.

Today

There is no reason as to why we can’t make the American’s Creed A National special Creed and vogue today.  Ninety nine years is a long time to keep this gem on the back burner.  It spells out you have Freedom, Equality, Justice, and Humanity and that men died or lost their fortunes so that you could have those things.   So to me that means no man or woman has a right to take those things away from you.  America EARNED THEM.  American People EARNED THEM.  The Creed was put together and declared as such by the House of Representatives and the commissioner of education of the state of New York accepted the Creed for the United States.  In other words this is a big deal. Even though some will claim it is no big deal look at the very establishments that do have creeds.  Harvard has one many businesses have them and swear by them.  Are you going to tell Harvard their creed is no big deal?  Back in these days the making of the creed it just wasn’t a contest brushed to the side when it was over.  If it was the House of Representatives wouldn’t of been involved in it in the first place the contest would of been held and a winner selected and that was the end of that.

The wording…

The wording of the Creed used passages and phrases from the Declaration of Independence, the Preamble to the Constitution, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and Daniel Webster’s reply to Robert Y. Hayne in the Senate in 1830.

FREEDOM –  the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. No subjection to foreign domination or despotic government or slavery by the Government or it’s people. Everyone is entitled to Freedom.

EQUALITY – the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities. No one is above or below you.  Everyone is entitled to Equal Rights.

JUSTICE –  The right to a fair trial.  The right to be judged in court by your peers. Innocent until proven guilty.

1.

the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness:

to uphold the justice of a cause.

2.

rightfulness or lawfulness, as of a claim or title; justness of ground or reason:

to complain with justice.

3.

the moral principle determining just conduct.

4.

conformity to this principle, as manifested in conduct; just conduct, dealing, or treatment.

5.

the administering of deserved punishment or reward.

6.

the maintenance or administration of what is just by law, as by judicial or other proceedings:

a court of justice.

7.

judgment of persons or causes by judicial process:

to administer justice in a community.

HUMANITY – all human beings collectively; the human race; humankind. The standards of humanity, care, compassion, charity, mercy, empathy and dignity”

Each and every part of the Creed is important it makes men and women free and equal and justice prevails over opinion or lack of evidence last humanity seals the deal by instilling empathy and dignity etc. At the end of the Creed it states that you have a duty to love your Country, support the Constitution, obey all laws, respect the flag, and to defend your country and flag against all enemies and I believe that is defending your country against foreign and domestic enemies.  This creed is the one thing America has that can be taught too everyone and NOT have one person not know what America is about.  Why wouldn’t you want a simple statement to cherish?

THE AMERICAN’S CREED

“I believe in the United States of America as a Government of the people by the people, for the people, whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a Republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect Union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. I therefore believe it is my duty to my Country to love it; to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.”