Tag Archives: American exceptionalism

You Can’t Hide From History

 

George Washington University made national news earlier in the week for a change in its history department.  Following a recent trend, school officials have decided to no longer require history majors to take American History before graduating, making it optional.  Currently, only a third of colleges make American History mandatory for those who major in this field.  Yet, it seems strange for an institution named after the first president of the United States to not stress and treasure American History.

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope, Romans 15:4.

Upon hearing this news, an outsider like me was initially put off until I realized who is teaching these classes.  To the atheist, liberal, progressive and socialist professors, the thought of American exceptionalism is offending.  Subsequently, the curriculum must be filtered, eliminating and skipping over content which reveals a Christian heritage and biblical principles.  Instead of getting the whole story, a revisionist history void of spiritual leaders is giving students a false narrative making American History just another class.

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible, Hebrews 11:3.

Unfortunately, most college students graduate from universities thinking America’s founding fathers were a bunch of hypocritical slave owners.  If only material like Steeling the Mind of America was used to enlighten classes.  When individuals see American History that is unfiltered first hand, the outcome will be much different.  Most forget a time when this country celebrated 4 national religious holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and Independence Day.  While a different narrative is winning over naive minds, you can’t hide from history when you search for the truth.

by Jay Mankus

 

Anal or Apathetic?

There was in time in American history when most of its’ citizens would cross their i’s and dot their t’s.  This was considered normal, a byproduct of rugged individualism.  Unfortunately, those days have passed, leaving 2 extremes on either side of the spectrum: anal or apathetic.

Someone who is anal tends to be meticulous, a stickler for the rules, paying close attention to details.  A negative connotation of anal are individuals who are OCD, suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder.  Meanwhile,  those who seem disinterested, emotionless or half-hearted are associated with apathy.  Thus, there is a growing generation of people who either care too much or are tuning out society, lukewarm at best about life.

Jesus wasn’t a fan of politics, but he did speak out and against religious leaders who allowed ideology to trump God’s Word.  Essentially, the anal are similar to self-righteous souls who look down at the flaws, mistakes and sinners around them without looking at themselves in the mirror.  Whereas the apathetic realize their condition, yet like the prodigal son, most keep on going down a path toward destruction.  Whether you are anal, apathetic or somewhere in between, may the parable of the Two Sons in Matthew 21:28-32 straighten you out to develop a Christ like life.

by Jay Mankus