Legacy
“A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to complacency; From complacency to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.”
— Alexander Fraser Tytler
— Benjamin Franklin
There was a significant emotional event this past Saturday in the West family. Our oldest daughter, Aubrey Elizabeth, got married. The event stirred great reflection within me. It seems just like yesterday that she was a precious little 5lb 4oz bundle of joy and love who came into our lives on April 9, 1993. And, now, I have presented her to her chosen love who will care for her for the rest of her life. If he doesn’t, well, the ol’ Colonel has an answer for that, but he is a good young man. I am reflecting upon the happy and sad times. I remember the moments of pride and the moments that made my wife, Angela, and I scratch our heads. All of us as parents have experienced those trying times, but we would lovingly do them again, and again, and again.
Why is that?
It is because we are seeking to create and establish a legacy that will transcend our own lives. We understand — at least I pray we do — that the real measure of our lives, who we are, is not what we as ourselves achieve or accomplish. It is the legacy that we establish for future generations. For generations going forward, I pray that Aubrey will remember those times, especially that walk down the aisle when her dad gave her to her husband. Years from now, when I am gone, subsequent generations will look back on ol’ man Allen West, as I do my dad and grandad, and recall those memorable moments.
It is in that same spirit that I believe our Founding Fathers reflected upon this creation, these United States of America, and Texas. I believe that these seemingly ordinary men, and women, breathed life into something that was unheard of: a nation founded upon individual liberty, rights, and sovereignty. They sought to establish a legacy that would transcend time, and their own lives, believing that each generation would pass on this ideal to the next and they would reflect back upon their wisdom, courage, discernment, and intellectual prowess.
However, here we are today with the legacy that they left. Heck, they themselves are being disparaged, denigrated, and destroyed . . . canceled and their legacy decimated. Imagine if my great, or great-great, grandchildren went to my grave and tore down my headstone because my life had been redefined by those who came long after me. Well, that is exactly what is happening in our America.
I began this missive with the attributed quote of 18th-century Scottish political philosopher, Alexander Fraser Tytler. I believe that this is perhaps one of the most prescient quotes in history. His assessment of the cycle of democracy can easily be applied to America today. As a reminder, no, America is not a democracy, it is a Constitutional Republic. Yes, we do elect our officials in a system of representative democracy, but that is not our governing philosophy.
Consider that cycle described by Tytler, and seriously ask yourselves: where is America, and even Texas, at this time?
The person who resides in our White House has stated that “no amendment (to our Constitution) is absolute.” That means the basic premise of individual rights is subjective and up to revocation by Executive Order. The same individual does not believe we are a sovereign nation, nor that Texas is a sovereign state. He is allowing a flood of illegal immigrants into the Lone Star State and America . . . with no one stepping up to stop this.
We have come to a point where we do not educate our children about America. We indoctrinate them with the belief that America is hate-filled. We force them into a hatred that is reflected in the destruction of memorials to those who went before us. Heck, we have a system that spends more time getting our kids to buy into advocacy to undergo dangerous procedures to alter their perfectly formed bodies, rather than believing that God made them perfect just as they are.
Tytler mentions the phase that transitions us away from bondage, spiritual faith, and how it leads us to courage, and then to liberty. In the Bible, we find these impeccable words:
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
— 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV),
However, last year, as we entered into the COVID insanity, we saw elected officials closing down our churches. As a matter of fact, last year, on the most important day in the Christian faith, Resurrection Day (aka Easter) our churches were on lockdown, and, even requests to have Easter services in parking lots were not allowed, under threat of having your license plate reported. Yes, some churches that did open were met with threats of burning. And, we know that Bibles were burned in Seattle.
At this time, it is imperative for us to decide what we want our personal legacy — and that of America, and Texas — to be. Fraser Tytler made it really easy to discern what path we can be on, and we could be the first nation to reverse the cycle. In order for that to happen, we must accept the personal responsibility to do as Benjamin Franklin challenged us: keep the Republic.
The progressive socialist left now wants to restructure our Supreme Court, add in new states (DC and Puerto Rico). They are flooding our country, especially Texas, with illegal immigrants and offering our taxpayer dollars to them. If this does not incense you, then I will assert you are not an American. The time for nuanced language has come to an end. Just as William Barrett Travis drew a line in the sand at The Alamo, a line is being drawn today. The choices are clear, a progression towards socialism, marxism, collectivism, communism . . . or liberty.
In another seminal passage of Scripture, Joshua challenges God’s people with this:
“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
— Joshua 24:15 (NIV)
This leftism we face is a clear and present danger to the legacy of Texas, and America.
This week we shall remember San Jacinto Day, April 21st. It was 185 years ago that Sam Houston and his Army charged the field and in 18 short minutes, affirmed the independence of Texas by routing Santa Anna and the Mexican Army. Will you today charge the ideological battlefield and claim victory for Texas? For America?
What will subsequent generations of Texans, Americans, say of you? What will be the legacy that you pass on in your own family? What part of the cycle of democracy will you leave for them?
Steadfast and Loyal,
LTC Allen B. West (Ret.)
Chairman
Republican Party of Texas
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