Preserve our freedom and liberty

Many of the early settlers who came to this country from Europe were pilgrims and Puritans who were seeking freedom from religious persecution and the tyranny of kings and princes.

They worked through hardship and conviction to build a society based on God's word and his laws. This was the foundation upon which our democracy and government was based. Democracy was a new form of government at this time based on a government of the people, by the people and for the common good of the people. They carefully created a constitution that limited government power and was designed to prevent abuse of government control by having checks and balances with three branches of federal government, Legislative, executive and judicial. The executive and legislators were to have limited terms of office to be responsible to the people in frequent elections. This republic resulted in liberty and opportunity which richly blessed this country for two centuries. We inherited a great legacy of freedom and free enterprise because of their wisdom and courage.

In the early years of our history there was also a series of grassroots spiritual revivals which were a great foundation to establish a country of strong moral and spiritual values which formed a responsible self reliant, self disciplined society.

A famous French historian, Alexis de Tocqueville, came to America in the 1830s and studied this new democracy for several years and wrote about the good moral values and character evident in the lives of the American people.

Freedom is not free - over our 238 year history, we have had to defend and protect our country and democracy by fighting eight major wars. Four in my lifetime, including the present one against radical Islamic Terrorism.

By the grace of God we were able to be victorious through the sacrifice of many who fought and gave their lives that we might continue to have freedom. That is why we have Memorial Day to honor them and thank God for their courageous sacrifice.

There are dangerous trends that threaten our future freedom as a nation that we must be vigilant and have the courage to resist them.

I was in the army of occupation in Germany right after the end of World War II and witnessed the horrendous results of National Socialism and Nazi control that destroyed freedom and resulted in the death of millions of lives in Europe. America lost more than 400,000 military deaths in World War II.

I was on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., for World War II veterans in the fall of 2010. I saw the World War II Memorial - 4,000 gold stars on a wall, each one representing a hundred U.S. military who died in that war. I also saw the huge Arlington National Cemetery where 233,000 veterans are buried on 640 acres.

If we are to survive as a free nation we must have a vast spiritual grassroots revival to repent and change. The formula is given by God as recorded in scripture in II Chronicles 7:14 in the Bible.

' John H. Kittleson, of Postville, is a retired teacher and retired small business owner.