I've been slowly working on a piece that I think gets to the meat of all the problems we face in our country and in the world today. But I keep stopping myself and re-working it because, as I've always known, no one cares about anything I write. Also, nothing I can write or say can mean anything or make any difference to an audience that has never read the thoughts and philosophies of wise and virtuous men like John Adams. If you can't be convinced by the priceless papers and letters and speeches mined as diamonds from the depths of such noble minds, no arrangement of words that I could produce could ever bring you to recognize that we are in the process of societal collapse. As an example of the wisdom of John Adams, take this segment of a letter he wrote to one of his grandsons. I think it is because we are lacking leaders of this sentiment that we find ourselves in the serious times we are in. And so, without further ramblings from the likes of me, I give you President Adams.
"Oh, that I may always be able to say to my grandsons, 'You have learned much and behaved well, my lads. Go on and improve in everything worthy.' Have you considered the meaning of that word "worthy"? Weigh it well... I had rather you should be worthy possessors of one thousand pounds honestly acquired by your own labor and industry, than ten millions by banks and tricks. I should rather you be worthy shoemakers than secretaries of states or treasury acquired by libels in newspapers. I had rather you should be worthy makers of brooms and baskets than unworthy presidents of the United States procured by intrigue, factious slander and corruption."
This was written to a grandson, but it could have been written for any of us, even in our day. If John Adams could see us and our politicians now!
