Our nation can turn these problems into opportunities to mold an even stronger United States of America; however, to do so, we citizens must do several things.

We must revitalize an enthusiastic pride in our nation.  Pride generates concern and enables us to be more responsive and cooperative as we seek solutions to problems. And even though we have problems, pride surges through me when I think of the unmatched successes of America in the fields of agriculture, technology, medicine, education, humanitarian causes, the standard of living we possess and the way our freedoms have been defended.

We must revitalize a spirit of unity in our nation.  Issues will inevitably arise from time to time upon which we will never agree, and that is as it should be for the sake of a healthy government.  But when possible, we must not let our own selfish desires become a point of contention.  Too long, we have pitted one person against the other person, one group against another group, the democrats against the republicans, the executive, against the legislative, and the judicial against oppression of rights.

It has been said that you don’t sink half a ship, for the ship either floats or sinks; and, ladies and gentlemen America is one big ship.

We must revitalize an abiding faith in almighty God such as that possessed by the founders of this great country.

Our society has come to worship such gods as materialism, leisure time, and economic growth. If America is to remain a free and stable nation, blessed of the true and living God, then we must serve the true and living God and stop fooling ourselves with the semblance of service we now offer.

America, does your strife make you strong? Let’s look to the 9th and 10th verses of 2 Corinthians, Chapter 12 of the Holy Bible for the answer:

9. “And he has said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

10. “Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with  persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

America, your strife can make you strong.

This concludes my remarks I gave July 4, 1975 at the Picayune celebration.  It is very discouraging to see that our major problems discussed in 1975 have become even more detrimental.

America’s apostasy has advanced at warp speed through the aid of our court systems and a society bent on a cultural revolution.

In his book, “Suicide Of A Superpower”, Patrick Buchanan quotes historian Arnold Toynbee who wrote, “Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.”  Buchanan further says “And so it is.  We are the prodigal sons who squandered their inheritance; but unlike the prodigal son, we can’t go home again.”

Also, he states, “Religion is the foundation of morality and only a moral people can sustain a free republic as our founding fathers asserted.  Without religion, morality withers and dies, the community disintegrates, the nation falls.  Our fathers’ insight goes far toward explaining the current crisis of the republic, for America has ceased to be the Christian country they and we grew up in.”

By Aaron Russell.