I was recently reading through the Federalist Papers. When I got to Federalist No. 2, I couldn't help but "get something in my eye".
"With equal pleasure I have as often taken notice that Providence has been pleased to give this one connected country to one united people--a people descended from the same ancestors, speaking the same language, professing the same religion, attached to the same principles of government, very similar in their manners and customs, and who, by their joint counsels, arms, and efforts, fighting side by side throughout a long and bloody war, have nobly established general liberty and independence.
This country and this people seem to have been made for each other, and it appears as if it was the design of Providence, that an inheritance so proper and convenient for a band of brethren, united to each other by the strongest ties, should never be split into a number of unsocial, jealous, and alien sovereignties.
Similar sentiments have hitherto prevailed among all orders and denominations of men among us. To all general purposes we have uniformly been one people each individual citizen everywhere enjoying the same national rights, privileges, and protection." -John Jay
We've dwindled so much. Our common faith, ethnic background, code of ethics, ideals, etc. We have fallen so far.
Our government has become so bloated and out of control that, upon seeing the monstrosity, it might have caused even Hamilton to rethink his position on federalism -at least a little.
Our common faith has been splintered into hundreds of "micro-denominations".
We've imported the whole world to plunder what we built.
It’s sad to see the vision of our founders now require some bizarre kaleidoscope to make out what they originally envisioned.
We can still twist the kaleidoscope and bring the vision back into focus.
We can't forget where we come from. We can't forget what we've made.
We can't give up. We must keep fighting
We're Americans.
We must return to our Christ. We must return to our grit and character. We must return to being united as a country under God.