Ken,
Here is more fodder for ideas:
The following quote is from a letter sent by George Washington to the various Governors upon the disbanding of the Continental Army:
"I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection; that he would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow-citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for brethren who have served in the field; and finally that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation."
Personally I think this is a pretty good basis on which to set guidelines for the continuation of some kind of forum comprised of the “disbanded” members of Huck’s Army.
I’ll illustrate the political principles I draw from the above document.
I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection.
1.) We believe that “In God We Trust,” “one Nation under God” and our endowment by “our creator” are not just buzz words of slogans. These are principles central to our identity and understanding of the world. Heartland Army (or whatever moniker) affirms these principles and supports the role of people of faith in the public square.
that he would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government
2.) Civil society requires government. Family is the first form of government in society and no family can long function without authority. Nor can society. How a nation or family is governed is a very large and personal question. What is not in question is whether government, but how much and what forms. HA affirms the worlds of founding father James Madison that, “In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.”
to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow-citizens of the United States at large
3.) There is no civil society, no civilization, without civility. HA affirms the need , and requirement, for civil discourse and an awareness that we are all part of a political community. We therefore affirm the closing lines of Lincoln’s First inaugural address that, “Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”
and particularly for brethren who have served in the field.
4.) HA honors especially those who have been will to step forward and answer the call of duty to defend our nation.
and finally that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation.
5.) The duty to live our lives for a higher purpose disposes us to graciously affirm those traditional values of our ethical heritage. HA affirms the right and duty to protect the weak, including the unborn, promote justice, and demand responsible action of ourselves, our leaders, and our institutions.
Just a rough draft thought piece.
_________________ "As for us, our days of combat are over. Our swords are rust. Our guns will thunder no more. The vultures that once wheeled over our heads must be buried with their prey. Whatever of glory must be won in the council or the closet, never again in the field. I do not repine. We have shared the incommunicable experience of war; we have felt, we still feel, the passion of life to its top."
Oliver Wendell Holmes
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