A Prayer

Oh, heroes who love mercy more than life, confirm thy liberty in law, and bless thy good with brotherhood.

"Free"

"Free" began as a word of endearment for family members. It was used to mean things like 'dear' and 'beloved.' It also came to mean something like 'trustworthy.' It was used to refer to friends and clansmen. It referred to those who were at liberty to be around you because they were trustworthy. People and places where one could expect tolerance, liberality, generosity, liberty, honesty, understanding, love, cooperation, were called 'free.' There were free lands, free companions, free countries, free neighbors, free people, free nations.

There was a moment when a free man in a free country among free people freely accepted the responsibility to be cooperative, loving, understanding, honest, fair, and generous.

Intercollegiate Studies Institute - Educating for Liberty

Intercollegiate Studies Institute - Educating for Liberty

Take this civics test and have it corrected for you by clicking the link above.

Only you will know.

Marianne

You might see her 'down by the seaside sifting sand.'


Marianne is a national emblem of France and an allegory of 'reason' and 'liberty.' 


Reason, for many, including the French, is the faculty of discursive reason which defines our common humanity. It includes our speech, science, art, mathematics, philosophy, logos, and the rational.


Liberty, for many, including the French authors of the rights of man, is that condition which allows us to govern ourselves.


I take this opportunity to thank the French for lending us their Navy and know how to help us win our liberty. They went into deep debt to help us and then gave us the gift of the Statue of Liberty. Who has done more?


The Statue of Liberty could represent a very close relative of Marianne. 


People of France, you have my enduring gratitude.


Understanding benefits from an occasional sifting.