Kennedy's admonishment

I remember, as a young person, listening to the inauguration of the Democratic President John F. Kennedy. Recently I heard again the words stated by him in his inaugural address. "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." I thought about how far our nation has strayed from that principle espoused by President Kennedy.

For many people it IS about what their country can do for them! People seem to have the idea that everyone in this country has a "right" to jobs, housing, food, education, health care and even new cars and it is the job of government to provide them. Many think that government should take away from those who have earned wealth and give it to those who haven't!

This idea of government dependency makes us weak as a people. People who can't stand on their own two feet are easily knocked down! Strength comes from taking responsibility for ourselves, facing challenges, overcoming adversity, working hard, sacrificing present wants for future rewards.

The wisdom of our founding fathers is evidenced by our Constitution which calls for limited government. The colonists weren't people who expected government to take care of them. They risked everything to make good lives for themselves and obtain their freedom from tyranny. That is the legacy they gave us and that principle has made our country and our people strong.

We will only stay strong if we follow the admonition of President Kennedy. If we continue to expect government to do for US and allow them to take greater and greater responsibility for our personal lives, we will soon lose the freedom to succeed or fail. Our strength as a nation will erode. We will become a nation of sheep who are easily herded and sheared.

We serve our country when we are good citizens; when we vote; when we serve in the military, when we give of ourselves to help those in need. But most of all, we serve our country when we stand up and take responsibility for our own lives.