LETTERS

Are we at the eve of destruction?

Posted 8/19/14

To the Editor:

The year was 1964, and I was entering my junior year at Pilgrim High School. Now 50 years later, would I ever imagine my U.S. history teacher, the late Mr. William Swift, was a …

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LETTERS

Are we at the eve of destruction?

Posted

To the Editor:

The year was 1964, and I was entering my junior year at Pilgrim High School. Now 50 years later, would I ever imagine my U.S. history teacher, the late Mr. William Swift, was a modern day prophet?

As I reflect back a half-century ago on that class, I carried away one vital fact – our nation was “framed” on religious principles. Point of reference being, on April 30, 1789, George Washington took the oath as the first president of the United States of America and stated, “The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and righteousness which Heaven (God) itself hath ordained.”

Professor Swift always taught us that President Washington was telling us as a new nation that “If America upholds God’s eternal standards and follows His unchanging ways, then it will be blessed with His favor ... His protection ... His prosperity ... But if America should depart from the ways of God, if it should disregard His eternal standards, then the blessings of God will be withdrawn – its prosperity, its protection and its powers would be taken away. Hence, the day America turns away from God will be the day that begins the removing of blessings.”

With all this said, I’ll never, ever forget what Mr. Swift told us on the last class of the year. He said, don’t ever forget President Washington’s words; for if this nation does turn from God, we will be on the “Eve of Destruction. It might not happen in our lifetime, but if history repeats itself, which it usually does, our great nation will fall.”

I believe Mr. Swift was amazingly accurate, prophetic if you will, America is turning, and in some cases turned away from God. What are today’s results? Just look around, calamities of all kinds fill the papers and newscasts. They take the form of economic disintegration, military weakness, disorder and division, the collapse of infrastructure, sins of abortion, marriage equality, drugs, pornography ... the list goes on. Prosperity, protection and peace, along with our nation’s reputation of strength around the world, are collapsing!

What’s the solution? Turn back to God before it’s too late! Thank you, Mr. Swift.

Richard D. Walsh

East Greenwich

Comments

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  • JohnStark

    Cogent recollections, Mr. Walsh. These days, Mr. Swift would not be interviewed for a job in public education with those sentiments, much less articulate such things in a public school classroom.

    Wednesday, August 20, 2014 Report this

  • jfraser

    In no way does religion belong in a public school classroom. Maybe someday the Beacon will get enough letters to the editor as to not have to publish Mr. Walsh's conservative rantings and religious prophesies in virtually every edition.

    Thursday, August 21, 2014 Report this

  • Sharon53

    I agree that religion doesn't belong in the classroom, God does. God is not a religion, God is God, our Creator. Really, because the Pledge of Allegiance stated, "One nation under God', it was removed from the schools, that's insane. We, as a nation, have turned away from God and His favor has been lifted off us. Open your eyes and look around, abortion, murder, homosexuality, are all rampant, and we as a nation, have accepted it. We have been forced to take down crosses, yet it's okay to erect statues of Satan. This world is backwards and I "thank you", Richard Walsh, for having the courage to submit your letter.

    Sharon

    Thursday, August 21, 2014 Report this

  • jfraser

    The statue of Satan you're referring to, I assume, is the statue being designed for the Oklahoma State Capital. Apparently you are not aware that this statue is being planned as a response to a Ten Commandments monument that was erected on the same site. Since "Congress will make no law respecting an establishment of religion", its only right to allow Satanists, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, etc., etc., etc. to erect their own religious monuments, since what is right for Christians, has to be right for all other religions.

    "Under God" was added to the Pledge in 1954 primarily to conservative paranoia over communism. The original pledge mentioned nothing of God - “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” There is nothing insane about the removal of students' obligation to say "under God" - public schools should not promote any religion or any god at all. If you want your kids to learn about whatever god you believe in, take them to your place of worship or send them to a religious school. It may surprise you, but not everyone worships the same god and some don't worship any god. I'll assume that based on your comments above you think that your god is the only god. That's fine, just don't get upset when people disagree with you.

    Sunday, August 24, 2014 Report this

  • JohnStark

    jfraser accurately represents the viewpoint of those on the Left; We must silence those with whom we disagree. A California student is suspended from his public school for wishing his teacher "Merry Christmas". A Tennessee student is suspended for saying "God Bless You" after a classmate sneezes. Today's speech codes are being enforced (and endorsed) by the very public educators who should fighting these codes with every ounce of their being. Instead, too many educators use their classrooms as mini-indoctrination cauldrons. The result is a generation of young people who know little of their country's history, express rigidly politically-correct language, are only marginally employable, and can't understand why. And the Left's answer is more money for more indoctrination.

    Sunday, August 24, 2014 Report this

  • davebarry109

    Jfraser....'the phrase under God was added primarily due to conservative paranoia about communism'? Shouldn't everyone be paranoid about communism? Communism has killed between 60 and 100 people in the world.Communists are evil people. Look at Putin, an old line communist. Look at China, still imprisoning and torturing dissidents. I could go on but sounds like you like commies.

    Monday, August 25, 2014 Report this

  • jfraser

    That's funny JohnStark that you apparently think that progressives are guilty of silencing those with whom they disagree. No one is more guilty of that than conservatives.

    I will point you to a statement made in response to the suggestion of erecting a Satanic statue at the Oklahoma State Capital, Republican governor Mary Fallin's spokesman stated "There will never be a satanic monument on the grounds of the Oklahoma State Capitol and the suggestion that there might be is absurd." Why shouldn't Satanists be able to erect their statue in the same public place that a Christian Ten Commandments monument is? Because the Republican governor doesn't want it there, smack in the middle of the Bible Belt. That seems odd to me that this Satanic group's voice would be suppressed, since conservatives, as you implied, would never attempt to silence anyone with whom they disagree.

    Friday, August 29, 2014 Report this