The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

The Dream Of Our Forefathers

by Dessa Rodeffer
Quill Editor/Publisher

1 November 2000

My home is a home of freedom, and I'm glad it is!

It happened because my and your ancestors had a dream of a place they could raise their families in a land of democracy.

That means the land is governed by the people and for the people. It's a terrific idea and who says dreams don't come true?

We know from our history lessons that the dream of a democracy came true because of the determination, sacrifices, and hard work of our forefathers.

How much we do care for the things that are fresh and new in our lives, like a newborn baby until they are toddlers trying out their own way of doing things.

How much we cherish the freedoms we are handed, like our driver's license and the keys to our parent's cars. We take such care of it the first time we have drive.

But then, we begin taking for granted what we have been given and begin to complain about the car not being new enough.

We make the excuse that it's an old thing and we fail to clean and wash it as we did the first time we had the privilege of driving it.

Our freedoms come in so many special ways in this United States that you and I have taken them for granted.

It was pointed out on the TODAY Show last week that this race should be interesting because it is the first time two candidates have come from the "baby boomer" generation not the World War era.

Another commented that Al Gore is saying the election is about the issues, and Bush is saying it is about integrity in the White House.

A newsman said a group of political specialists and economists said the Country will not be affected either way by who is elected and the vote is expected to be one of the closest in history.

I am wondering, if Americans acted as if this democracy was fresh and new would the election be this close.

If, as residents of the thirteen colonies who had just fought for this privilege to select their leader, would we eagerly be taking part in this political process we have sadly come to make jokes of?

As for me, I like being under the authority of "Mr. Freedom."

You and I do not need a "Sugar Daddy" in the White House who hands us lots of nice things, then slaps us with the paycheck later.

We do not need a "Father of our Country" who we have to explain or can't trust.

And as far as the issues, many solutions do not start at the top, but usually at the grass roots level. Boosters and volunteers still pave the way because like our early ancestors, they aren't in it for the pay or the job.

We need someone in our office buildings we can trust, who will listen, who will say "no" when it is something states and citizens can do for themselves, and who cares.

We do not need hundreds of programs that will bankrupt all our pockets and our nation, but we need a government that will insure our freedom to grow.

The hardest thing, sometimes, is for a parent to get out of a child's way and let him learn to walk and that means watching him fall sometimes. Eventually he will run.

Leaders of honor and integrity is what we need in the White House and in Illinois. We can communicate our hopes and dreams, then we can get out of their way.

They will hire good people and a chain-link of good things will happen.

We must vote for integrity. There's no other way.