That the Future May Learn from the Past
Back to the Future
Brooke and I spent some time last week in Colonial Williamsburg; it was my second trip and her first. While most come to this bastion of colonial America for a family getaway combined with a learning experience for the kids, we got much more out of it than that. With that being said, I'd be a liar if I told you that this was our expectation, or if anyone else but us interpreted their time there as we did. All we really wanted was nice weekend away at a bed & breakfast while learning a little of our country's past. The United States of America is in the midst of a new revolution, and in its own way, Colonial Williamsburg is doing its part.
The Times that Try Men's Souls
One of the coolest aspects of Colonial Williamsburg is its daily Revolutionary City, a two-hour extravaganza in which costumed actors, set in a specific time period of American history, address the crowd. There are three programs that run on specific days, entitled Nation Builders, the Collapse of the Royal Government, and Citizens at War. Many of the actors portray actual people in American history, such as Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Washington and Benedict Arnold. Lesser known citizens in American history are portrayed as well, but all of the events portrayed are dramatizations. Even with that knowledge going in to them, it was difficult not to be moved.
Patrick Henry addressing the citizens of Williamsburg was unarguably the most inspiring. Set just after his famous Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death speech on March 23, 1775, Mr. Henry summed up his stance for the citizens of Williamsburg, calling them to act in the best interests of the future republic of America.
Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
The Heart of the Matter
Below is an excerpt from the Mission of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation:
Here we interpret the origins of the idea of America, conceived decades before the American Revolution. The Colonial Williamsburg story of a revolutionary city tells how diverse peoples, having different and sometimes conflicting ambitions, evolved into a society that valued liberty and equality. Americans cherish these values as a birthright, even when their promise remains unfulfilled.
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has dedicated itself to showing the citizens of America, that roughly 230 years ago, citizens of the British Empire in North America united against their mother country in a quest for certain unalienable rights, including Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Now, I'm not saying that it would a good idea to rally together and start a revolution. That would, in fact, be the worst possible move. What America needs, however, is a renewal. And as a citizen of America, it not only your right to question our country's leaders, it is your duty.
But when our laws, our leaders or our government are out of alignment with our ideals, then the dissent of ordinary Americans may prove to be one of the truest expression of patriotism.
Ironically, when Senator Obama was giving his speech in Independence, Missouri, we were listening to Patrick Henry give his.
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