[Looking at history and our area’s unique political and religious attitudes.]

Many with traditional values see frustration at the state of the invasive rhetoric and push against reason in our society. They no longer feel part of their own culture. Our last column revealed the bad news that the carnage of war falls predominantly on the young men.

The good news is the young age group is the firebrands of revolution and the restoration of society. When we were growing up, our mantra was ‘Trust no one over 30.’ The simplistic adage shows a kernel of reality. Our grandkids have trouble believing we were ever that young.

The ‘older-age’ provides stability, financial resources, and the lessons of history, which can keep you from destruction. If you do not understand history, you are doomed to repeat the same deadly mistakes others have committed.

The ‘younger-age’ provide new approaches, energy, and their perceived invincibility. The young do not know what they cannot do, so they do it.

Together great things happen.

Look at our nation. The seminal event was the Declaration of Independence of a few farmers on the frontier against the King and the most powerful military and navy in the world at that time. A young Thomas Jefferson penned the amazing work of human rights with his old friend, Dr. Ben Franklin, as his balance and colleague.

Jefferson was 14 when his father passed. He went to college, did his internship, and was practicing law while a farmer. He was elected to the Virginia house at age 26. At 31, he wrote a declaration to the king called “Summary View of the Rights of British America.” By 33, this had become the all-important challenge to the king.

A Virginia neighbor of Jefferson was John Leland, a young Baptist minister, outspoken anti-slavery, and hands-on political activist. He was only 22 at the beginning of the Revolution. When the Constitution did not include protection for religious freedom, he was outspoken so much so that he ran against James Madison. Because of Leland’s influence and religious following, Madison saw he would lose handily. As a good, politician with integrity, Madison struck a deal with Leland that he would get a Bill of Rights and religious liberty would be a cornerstone. He did and they became friends and confidante. Without Leland, there would be no First Amendment.

The Founders realized the abilities and contributions of young people of integrity, so they incorporated the idea in the Constitution.

What is the age qualification for President? Thirty-five. While not a teenager, that is young to lead the world. The youngest was Teddy Roosevelt at 42.

Like  Dr. Ben Franklin, by 42 I had retired the first time. I then became a University Professor. After that retirement, then, like Franklin, I am a research scientist and historian. At the behest of our historian Pastor, I am teaching ham radio classes again, with great colleagues. In the last year and a half, we have turned out 94 new licenses.

This is a note I received yesterday from one of the newer ones. “First, I would like to thank you for giving me a gift that I thought I’d lost.  You have given me the gift of wanting to learn again.  I will always be grateful for that. God has really blessed you and I’m thankful.”

The point is you are never too young or too old to make an impact.

Throughout the history of the American experiment, change has come by three things.

First is return to right values by young men often less than 35. They are willing to fight for their principles.

Second is leadership by a pragmatic preacher who understands how to negotiate in politics. They have influence, an audience, and committed followers.

Then, the change/revolution/sermons are local, but spread regional. That is all it takes for national change. The leader does not have to dominate the national stage.

To completely change society and culture, positively or negatively, requires a very short time.

Traditional values have been trampled to the point that more people are realizing the atrocity. Some appear to be awakening. Strangely, brand marketing has stirred awareness by the politically uninvolved.

It is not over!

Who is the young, passionate preacher of today willing to lead with credible strength, with political practicality, and without religious sanctimony?

Think about Cotton Mather, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield, John Leland, and more recently Jerry Falwell, Senior, ministers who changed politics and society for the better. Think about elections with integrity. The traditional separatist religious segment has always turned elections. They just need a leader. One person makes the difference. The problems can be corrected. To a grand future.

Send us your histories, stories, and traditions including memories or twists. We would like to bring them along.