08-29-2016, 10:35 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-29-2016, 10:37 PM by Eric the Green.)
Maybe this quote by Emmet Fox might have something for each of us: "Unless you are seeking to embody the American Spirit in your own personal life and conduct, you are no true American, even though you may have authentic Mayflower ancestry.
If you allow yourself to judge the worth of a man by anything except his character, if you discriminate against him for any reason that is outside of his own control, you are no true American. If you judge him by his parents, or his connections, or his external conditions, instead of by himself, you are no true American.
If you allow yourself to be hampered by any question of precedents or traditions, you are no true American. If you think that any kind of honest work can be degrading, you are no true American. If you would not rather be independent in plain surroundings, than dependent in luxury, you are no true American.
If you allow yourself to be dazzled by any exalted Office, or intimidated or hypnotized by pretentious titles or gorgeous uniforms of any kind, you are no true American.
And, unless you believe that the poorest boy or girl doing chores around the farm, or playing on the sidewalk of a great city is just as likely - given the opportunity - to turn out to be the greatest soul in the nation, as the child who is reared in the lap of luxury, you are no true American."
https://books.google.com/books?id=GGk-Aw...ox&f=false
http://www.communityofinfinitespirit.org...70EA1A7E3A
If you allow yourself to judge the worth of a man by anything except his character, if you discriminate against him for any reason that is outside of his own control, you are no true American. If you judge him by his parents, or his connections, or his external conditions, instead of by himself, you are no true American.
If you allow yourself to be hampered by any question of precedents or traditions, you are no true American. If you think that any kind of honest work can be degrading, you are no true American. If you would not rather be independent in plain surroundings, than dependent in luxury, you are no true American.
If you allow yourself to be dazzled by any exalted Office, or intimidated or hypnotized by pretentious titles or gorgeous uniforms of any kind, you are no true American.
And, unless you believe that the poorest boy or girl doing chores around the farm, or playing on the sidewalk of a great city is just as likely - given the opportunity - to turn out to be the greatest soul in the nation, as the child who is reared in the lap of luxury, you are no true American."
https://books.google.com/books?id=GGk-Aw...ox&f=false
http://www.communityofinfinitespirit.org...70EA1A7E3A