"Freedom and Democracy"
A Sermon by
The Reverend Bill Clark
Freedom. A noun meaning the condition of being free; political independence; possession of civil rights; frankness, unrestricted use or access. Freedom!
If there is one word that vibrates and resonates amidst the political rhythm and rhetoric this campaign season, it is this word freedom. We, as Americans, have the freedom to choose our nations leaders. We, as Americans, have the freedom to discern, dialogue and direct the political future of our nation. And yet, for some it may appear that we as Americans have taken this freedom for granted.
Freedom! As we look out onto the very landscape of our church home, we note with promise and pride our churches position of history and heresy in our nations fight for freedom.
"Listen, my children and you shall hearRight outside our hallowed doors, men fought and died for the belief in freedom. The history of our nation's quest for freedom is rich with the lives of men and women who believed, above all else that with freedom comes - a creative vision. The history of our nations fighting for freedom is a boundless wealth of creativity, a creativity that says we will govern with social and political equality and respect for the individual within the community. We will govern by the people with elected representatives. We will create a nation governed by the principles of democracy.
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April in seventy-five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year....
It was one by the village clock,
When he galloped into Lexington.
He saw the gilded weathercock
Swim in the moonlight as he passed,
The meeting house windows, blank and bare,
Gaze at him with spectral glare,
As if he already stood aghast
At the bloody work they would look upon. (Longfellow)
Freedom and democracy. These are the results of what occurred right outside out front doors; a government, to use the words of own Theodore Parker and later used by one of our nations Presidents, "a government of All the people, by ALL the people and for ALL the people."
Freedom and democracy are hard work. From that fateful night on April eighteenth of seventy-five till the signing of the declaration of Independence on July 4th of seventy-six the truth and triumph of freedom and democracy remain as the cornerstone of this nation.
Imagine, if you will the sequence of events leading up to the signing of a declaration of independence. Imagine Thomas Jefferson, sitting in the home of Jacob Graff, a bricklayer, his quill pen in hand carefully and maticulosy choosing each phrase for this declaration. Imagine stacks of books and phamblets by his side used in researching the ideas of other thinkers and his refusal to refer to any of them at the actual time of his writing.
July 1st, 1776 the debate begins over the document. On the first ballot only nine of thirteen colonies vote in favor of independence. Pennsylvania and South Carolina both vote no. Delaware and New York argue and disagree among themselves so these two colonies abstain. South Carolina's delegates say their colony would vote for independence if PA. And Delaware could be persuaded to change their vote. With a glimmer of hope John Adams and Richard Henry Lee quickly go to work to persuade those who oppose independence. Delaware's third delegate, Caesar Rodney stays away this day because he is suffering from cancer. A fast rider is sent on the 80 mile trip to his farm to inform him how much his vote is needed.
July 2, 1776 is a gray and humid day in Philadelphia. Flies and mosquitoes annoyed the delegates in the State House while they continue to debate independence and freedom. Ah yes democracy is hard work!!
Caesar Rodney arrives exhausted from Delaware shortly after lunch riding since day break to vote yes to independence. Thus Delaware and PA both vote yes. South Carolina swings in line behind the two, as its delegates promised and the resolution of Independence passes 12-0 with the colony of New York abstaining.
That afternoon the United Colonies became the United States. John Adams wrote to his wife saying; "The second of July, 1776 will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival - it ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns bells bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward."
Congress, however, is not as ready to celebrate as Adams. Ah yes the hard work of democracy!!
Yes they had voted for independence , but had not approved the document that would explain this decision to the world.
July third and fourth find the temperatures on the rise, both inside and outside the State House. The delegates discuss word by word and phrase by phrase Jefferson's Declaration of Independence. Nowadays we call that wordsmithing. A long and heated debate continues over Jefferson's paragraph condemning the slave trade. It is removed. The final text is adopted on the Fourth of July, and freedom, a political independence with democracy as its foundation is declared.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."
What has happened to that nation that was created so deliberately over two hundred years ago? What has happened to the freedom and democracy that was so diligently crafted and created over two hundred years ago? Our very front lawn is hallowed ground for those who fought and died for our freedom and democracy and yet these very values have been replaced by skepticism, nihilism, doubt, fear and fundamentalism.
Election year politics and statistics speak to this very issue. Voter turn out in the United States is dreadfully low. In the 2000 elections, only half of the voting age population voted - and that statistic has varied little over the past 60 years. The Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance has compiled comparative cumulative data showing that since 1945, among the 172 nations that hold competitive elections, the United States ranks 139th in average voter turnout. And if we remove the eight countries who, have at times strictly enforced their compulsory voting laws, we rank 131st. (Rev. Paige Getty; Yes I Will, 2004)
These statistics are difficult for me to get my mind around. They are even more difficult for me to accept. And yet certainly I, too, perhaps like some of you, have felt, at times, that our nation has drifted far away from the foundation of our founding fathers and mothers. When the voice of the people has been replaced by the funding of special interest groups. When the voices of corporations are heard over the concerns of communities. When the voices of the disenfranchised are left silenced and muted. It is at these times I dig deep within and listen to the words of Dr. Martin Luther King who reminds us that; "Freedom is not given, it is won... Man {woman} dies when they refuse to stand up for that which is right. Man {woman} dies when they refuse to take a stand for that which is true."
And the one way we can take a stand, the one way we can stand up for that which is right and true is to exercise our right and responsibility by going to the polls on November 2nd and casting our vote. Freedom and democracy at times must be fought for and won. Freedom and democracy at times is painstakingly slow and a struggle. Yet freedom and democracy do not run by themselves. Freedom and democracy requires - at all times - our participation in it. This is one of the great privileges of being an American. The privilege of being responsible and accountable in making this system of government run and run well.
It was interesting, and I choose this word with some trepidation, interesting, as I was researching this sermon this week, I came across an article about the creators of the animated TV show South Park. It seems that the creator, Matt Stone had a message for all undecided voters. The message? Just stay home! In the release of a movie that Stone and Trey Parker created, a movie that debut at the box office in 3rd place with 12.3 million dollars encouraged voters who were undecided to simply stay home. "It doesn't matter who you are going to vote for," stated Stone, "if you really don't know who you're gonna vote for or are uniformed or haven't really thought about it, if you're gonna vote for Bush because he's already in office or you're gonna vote for Kerry because he's on the cover of Rolling Stone, don't do that. That's lame. Just stay home - just stay home!"
To say I was shocked and saddened by such lame advise would be somewhat of an understatement. And then I attended our youth group gathering on Sunday evening. And right there with the walls of this sacred place I heard the words of hope. As a youth was checking in he announced he had just turned 18. Another yelled out, now you can vote! "Yes," came his reply, "I registered this week. It was the first thing I did!"
It was the first thing I did. He registered to participate, to be responsible and accountable for his role in the freedom and democracy of his country. It filled me the hope for our future.
Yes, my friends there is no denying these are difficult times in our nations history. With the aftermath of the 2000 elections still hanging over us and the close race for this election drawing nearer and nearer, it is unclear which direction we are going. But the tired and true way of going in any direction will only happen through your participation in the process.
So if you are feeling discouraged or disgusted with the political mode of operandi these days? Take a walk out our front door and onto Lexington Green. Hear the haunting voices from the past of those who died for our freedoms and say to your self - let America be America again!
If you are feeling apathetic and absolute about not participating in this democracy? Take out a copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution read them to your self and say a loud - Let America Be America again!
If you are fearful and frightened with the direction this nation is headed. And hope filled with the possibility of what can be? Take out your voting card get to the polls and say aloud for all to hear - Let America be America Again!
It is like the story of A.J. Muste. During the Vietnam War, this man, then in his early eighties, stood in front of the White House night after night with a candle. Sometimes others joined him. Sometimes he stood alone. One night a reporter interviewed him as he stood there in the rain. "Mr. Muste," the reporter said, "Do you really think you are going to change the policies of this country by standing out here with a candle?"
A.J. Muste answered, "Oh I don't do this to change the country. I do this so this country won't change me." (Andrea Ayvizian, The Sun, Nov. 1994)
My friends, do not let the skeptics nor critics nor politics of this great land change us. Let us, by participating in the freedoms we are privilege to have and by taking ownership of the responsibility to the democracy we so cherish, change this great nation to be all it was created to be.
Let America be America Again!
Blessed Be.