24th Principle of Freedom

A Free People Will Not Survive Unless They Stay Strong.

Benjamin Franklin says, "Make yourselves sheep, and the wolves will eat you." (quoted in The 5000 Year Leap pg. 261) He has also been quoted as saying something to the effect of, "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote." The strongest ALWAYS prevail. Now before I hear complaints that that is not true, before I hear about the revolutionary war, or anything else, let me turn your attention to a story in the Old Testament.

Syria desired to attack Israel. Elisha warned the king of Israel of the place of attack and Israel was able to avoid being slaughtered. When the King of Syria heard this, he sent spies to find Elisha. When they found where he was staying, the King sent "...thither horses, and chariots, and a great host..." (2 Kings 6:14) and they circled around the place where Elisha was at night. Elisha's servant, Gehazi, in fear ran to his master wondering what they were going to do. Elisha calmed him by saying, "...Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." (2 Kings 6:16) Elisha then prayed and asked God to reveal the meaning of Elisha's words to Gehazi by letting him see what he meant, "...And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when they (the Syrians) came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smith this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha." (2 Kings 6:17-18) Elisha then led them to the King of Israel.

So I reiterate, the strongest always prevail. There are more ways than one to be the strongest. The founding fathers of course recognized this, and recognized that the citizens of the new republic must be moral and virtuous which would grant them blessing from heaven. However they also realized that without a prophet in their midst, they must make preparations themselves to fight against any threats to their rights of 'life, liberty, and [property,] the pursuit of happiness.' They knew that even Jesus warned, "...he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." (Luke 22:36)