Are we Americans cowards or is it something else? | Eastern North Carolina Now

    This Teacher's Desk takes the form of a guest column by Chris Cayton. Chris is a tireless patriot supporting the learning of the U. S. Constitution. She has been instrumental in organizing dozens of seminars on the topic and continues that work as a part of the Beaufort County Committee for Constitutional Studies.

    This piece was first composed in response to an email that was circulated from a post on the blog Eyes On Washington. What follows is Chris' response to Mr. Cantor.

    An answer to concerns about the question of whether or not America is populated by cowards who do nothing while our nation is being destroyed and evil prevails: My answer is that Americans have traditionally been brave. The question is why have they lost confidence and are failing to act now as our Constitution and indeed, our very form of government, is under attack as never before?

    Some citizens of the United States have become sheep because their education has been sorely lacking in inspired teaching by teachers who know and are inspired themselves about important subjects. One such subject is the history of Colonialism and the Founding Fathers. The people no longer know their Constitutional rights and don't know the Declaration of Independence and what a fine example that document is, as it shows how dangerous to our freedoms government can be, and how important our God given rights are. The student of history needs to be taught about America's brave Patriots and their exemplary determination to defend life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and that they pledged their honor, fortunes and life to do so that their posterity may be free. But more important is that the student needs to know without a doubt that this free form of government is unique, wonderful and is to be understood properly, and cherished.

    Unfortunately, we, the current generation of Americans ( and past generations), have not been watchful, and have allowed the teaching of America's incredible freedom heritage take a backseat to teaching about America's weaknesses, while ignoring the Founding Fathers' wisdom. Un-American propaganda has been creeping in for almost 200 years until the Constitution is now ignored to a major extent and is now barely hanging by a thread.

    How have Americans become so deceived that they don't stand up bravely and revolt?

    I believe it is because the boring rhetoric taught by the overwhelming majority of teachers on Colonialism puts the students to sleep, such as: learning dates and merely touching on the Jamestown and Mayflower experiences while delivering uninspired stories that lack examples of the knowledge gained from the pilgrims'. For example, how Governor Bradford's diary contributed to an understanding of free market economics vs socialism. Teaching with clarity, understanding and inspiration of the Colonial experience is barely touched on in schools and colleges, Instead teachers, ignoring the great freedom lessons, teach and convince the students that America is evil because of slavery. The slavery issue was debated long and hard at the Constitution Convention, the majority wanting to end it. The final decision was to end it in 20 years because of the South's economic concerns. The reason it didn't end at the end of that 20 year period was because of politicians who ignored the Constitution to pander for votes (Sounds familiar, doesn't it?). The people ignored this, and this terrible wrong finally resulted in the horrors of the Civil War. The point is that teachers, when teaching about slavery that began early in America's history, should emphasize that slavery could have ended at the appointed time had the people been watchful, brave and caring about freedom.

    Also, when social studies teachers teach other government models they should not get sidetracked to the point that they fail to emphasize that Communism is the worst form of socialism and is a form of slavery by government. It is anti-God as well. Is it any wonder that this propaganda is more easily taught and accepted as a viable form of government when Supreme Court activist judges handed down unconstitutional mandates to band prayer and the 10 commandments from our schools and public places? Neutrality on this issue will not do. The teacher should expose it as evil. They do not. On the contrary, especially in colleges, Communism, the ungodly distributors of the people's energy, time and money is brazenly taught as a good thing. This is unacceptable. Where is the outcry from parents who mortgage their lives to send their children to college to be taught lies and propaganda? Where are the parents at the PTO meetings?

    Teaching the Founders' great truths is being changed to accommodate "political correctness".

    Education does not place an emphasis on our excellent heritage of Freedom and how to preserve it. The teachers need to feel passionate about this subject and present it so that the students are inspired to preserve and to defend it. They should be taught the principles of liberty K/12 and in college, certainly in law school. This is not being taught period, mainly because the teachers, themselves have not been taught. How can teachers teach something they don't know?

    Again, we need teachers who feel passionate about Colonial America's quest for freedom from tyranny. The Colonial settlers brought their knowledge of freedom from England ( England had a history of freedom fighters i.e. Magna Charta, Petition of Rights, Bill of Rights) with them and also the knowledge of a tyrannical government that denied their freedom. King George usurped that tyrannical authority over them. The founders were well schooled in that experience and also they were influenced by writers such as John Locke, Montesquieu, Adam Smith, Cicero and other authors who had written on economics and government. The founders had much knowledge to pass on to the teachers of our day, but teachers are not teaching that gift of knowledge on the subjects of how to protect and maintain a free society. Their texts are carefully selected to prevent this from happening. (However, I happen to know about excellent texts that are available and that contain solid foundational information within their covers.) Education's primary focus should be on colonial America and the founders' truths in the social studies curriculum. It is not. Instead, Social Studies teachers bring into the classroom the un-American propaganda they were taught in college. The curriculum should not stress the wrongs and weaknesses of men in a free society while ignoring that which is right, good and essential. And because the right and good part is not stressed, the result is a populace so ignorant that they have no strong foundation, a standard, from which to judge right from wrong governance.

    Also, America's schools have great need to improve on teaching eternal values, morality.

    The lack of morality among the populace is another huge problem and morality is necessary in a free society. A moral people are not in need of masters, jails and prisons. They can govern themselves with little governing help and intervention.

    To conclude, I don't know if ignorance of important principles of freedom and morality makes us cowards, but I think so. What I do know is that the lack thereof makes us non-functioning "sheeple".

    So, having said all that, I am inspired to extend an invitation to you. Contact me if you're interested in increasing your knowledge so that we can stand together as patriots demanding our freedom back.

    The Beaufort County Committee for Constitutional Studies provides at no profit, but for $10.00, a course on The Constitution complete with study guide, that will give you the confidence a true Patriot needs.

    Chris Cayton Ph: (252) 975-3442 if you're interested in attending the next scheduled seminar, or you may reply by email to: noelcayton@gmail.com.

    Delma Blinson writes the "Teacher's Desk" column for our friend in the local publishing business: The Beaufort Observer. His concentration is in the area of his expertise - the education of our youth. He is a former teacher, principal, superintendent and university professor.