What would John Adams say?

Each day that passes takes us farther away from America’s founding, and the wisdom of those who gave us this nation. Sadly, as this length of time increases, our fervor for those founding principles seems to be dwindling also.

Today, many Americans, including a host of writers to the Daily Herald, apparently have no tolerance for those principles, and one of them recently said, regarding the Palatine Jaycees’ decision to deny a pro-life group from participating in a Fourth of July parade, “ … All these church groups have been taking their religious tax exemption as a religion since it was enacted in 1966; while at the same time being politically active on this issue.”

“ … While at the same time being politically active…?” That is Orwellian “today-think.” Back in the days of our founding, wisdom followed a different track. Our second president, John Adams, wrote an essay in which he admonished the religious leaders of the day to speak out against public errors, saying, “It is the duty of the clergy to accommodate their discourses to the times, to preach against such sins as are most prevalent, and recommend such virtues as are most wanted.”

I have no doubt how Adams would speak regarding the pro-life movement, and I’m sure he would not agree with the Palatine Jaycees’ decision to ban them from participation in the celebration of the birth of our nation.

John Babush

Big Rock