Independence Day: A time to reflect on its origin

  • Published
  • By Chaplain (Maj.) Craig Abee
  • 315th Airlift Wing
CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AFNS) --  Government is a messy proposition. Little do most people know that things in America were so messy in the years following victory at Yorktown that our country was as close to dis-union as it was to union. We forget that things did not come easy just because the Declaration of Independence was signed on a fateful day in July. There was to be five more years of war, it took two years to reach a treaty with England, and it took months to ratify it.

A constitutional convention was convened in 1787 to rewrite the ineffective Articles of Confederation. Pointed stones where thrown about from side to side. Some say only George Washington's personality held things together. One key sticking point was how states would be represented. The convention was deadlocked. It was Ben Franklin who rose to the occasion...

"In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle have observed frequent instances of superintending Providence in our favor. . . . And have we now forgotten this powerful friend? Or, do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?"

He asked, "is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?" He compared those gathered to build a nation to those gathered to build Babel, if it be attempted without the Lord.

He concluded his words with this suggestion; "henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessing on our deliberation be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business."

The deadlock was broken and consensus was achieved. A stronger nation emerged. Upon leaving the close of the convention a lady asked "Well, doctor, what have we got - a republic or a monarchy," A republic, if you can keep it," Mr. Franklin responded.

How do we keep this republic? We serve. We vote. We complain. We accuse. We point fingers. We work together. We give a little and take a little. We do lots of things; some helpful, some not so helpful.

This 4th of July, take a moment and consider the question - what am I doing to keep the republic Mr. Franklin spoke of? Sometimes the rancor in Washington, on talk shows, on sidewalks is so divisive I wonder what the future holds for our republic.

The next time we are tempted to throw stones at the left if we are on the right or at the right if we are on the left - or anytime we are tempted to throw stones at anyone - may we take a cue from Ben Franklin. Pray first. It is always harder to throw stones at a person or group of people you have just prayed for.

It helped give birth to our republic at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. I believe it will help us keep our republic healthy today and into the future.