By James Edward Howell Jr.

As I take notice of the daily news that I get from many sources, I am becoming more and more alarmed at what I sense to be a major calamitous change in the political state of our nation. We all know that our nation is a young nation. After declaring our independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776, (some say it was not signed until Aug. 2), our nation’s founders went on to write and sign our Constitution.

The Constitution was written during the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, between May 25 and Sept. 17, 1787. It was signed on Sept. 17, 1787.

During the Constitutional Convention, George Mason, a Virginia delegate, stated that he thought a Bill of Rights should preface the Constitution, he thought it would give comfort to the citizenry. The Bill of Rights, after much discussion, was signed and became our Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791.

There is a story that has come down through the years that Benjamin Franklin, one of our nation’s founders, was asked by a group of citizens, “What sort of government had the delegates created?” Benjamin Franklin answered, “A republic — if you can keep it.” The founding fathers knew that a democratic republic could only last as long as it was administered by a moral and law-abiding citizenry.

There are those of us that believe that God Almighty is the author of the laws pertaining to morality and how they should govern our lives. There is an element of people that disagree with that premise and would like to see all signs and symbols of that faith destroyed. They have pursued the elimination of any prayers in school, they despise any prayers or reference to Almighty God in any public arena. They hate our republic as it stands; they want a pure democracy where the radical many can control all. Through the years the radical left, with their socialist agenda, have infiltrated the nation’s schools and have successfully indoctrinated our youth. They have removed any reference to our nation’s history, how our nation was born, how it grew and prospered.

We need to know how we succeeded and where we failed in order to constantly improve the quality of life in our country. We need to know what types of governments that have been tried and failed miserably. We have ample proofs that socialism is a FAILURE. Just study the Democratic Socialism of Germany in the ’30s and ’40s. Look at Communist China, at Cuba and the USSR, and now look at Venezuela.

The blood of many of my family members and my friends has been shed to preserve and protect this young nation and now the beneficiaries of the freedoms that this nation has provided them want to tear it all down with their socialist’s cries for free education, free housing free phones. They even want to provide a paycheck to those who are able but unwilling to work.

The people have even elected people of the Islamic faith (with their Sharia law) into our governmental body. They hate the sovereignty of the United States. They want open borders with little or no control of those who come into our country.

The radical left has also stated that abortion is a good thing. They even say it is OK to kill an infant that has been born alive and breathing. They do not recognize that an unborn child is a human being. Remember that God said, “I knew you while you were yet in your mother’s womb.” There is no doubt in my mind that we, as a nation, have drifted far from what God intended us to be. If a person destroys a bald eagle’s nest and eggs a fine of $5,000 is imposed and prison confinement for one year. Where are our moral values? Something is not right. Do we really believe that a bird’s egg is more important that a living baby human being?

Another thing that disturbs me greatly is the fact that many people that I talk to about my concerns say, “I don’t listen to the news” or “I don’t read the paper. I am not interested in all that stuff.” Some of my closest friends say that to me. Don’t they care what happens to our country? I am afraid that if our country drifts too far apart from each other in what we believe there will eventually be another call to arms. You say that cannot happen. Don’t you remember Fort Sumter? Oh, I forgot! They did not tell you about that in school.

Yes, I am terribly distressed that we, as a nation’s people have degenerated into this quagmire of lies, deceit and false accusation. When I looked out at those in attendance at the State of the Union address, I was appalled at some of the conduct that I witnessed being demonstrated by the radical left.

Let me end with at least a whisper of hope. God says in the holy Scriptures, “If the people of a nation will repent and pray, I will heal their land.” Let us pray for our nation and all of its leaders. Let us pray that God will forgive our transgressions and again bless this land.

JAMES EDWARD HOWELL JR. is a native of Southampton County, a graduate pf Franklin High School and a retired farmer and real estate broker. He is also the author of three books. Contact him at 562-3289 or jimmy9298@charter.net.