天翻地覆的革命—美國遺產概要 3

就全面性來看，美國革命是歷史上眾多革命中非常獨特的一場革命：它不是由窮人與受壓制者所開始的，而是出於富人與成功人士。那些簽署美國獨立宣言的人，都是會為這場革命損失最多的人，這是歷史上從沒有過的事。

是什麼樣的異象可以點燃這些最有成就與安定的靈魂，讓他們面對最不可能的任務來挑戰世上最強大的帝國？當他們宣告他們將犧牲自己的生命、財產和不可侵犯的榮譽，可以確定的是他們將付上何等大的代價。世上幾乎沒有人可以擔保他們成功的機會，是什麼激發這些如此聰命又有成就的人進行這場革命呢？

歷史上有許多人為自由而戰，有時贏得一時自由，但每一場為自由而戰的革命到最後幾乎都輸了。是什麼促成了這場美國革命，使美國共和國誕生呢？什麼又使美國如此不同，以致於數百年後仍存留下來呢？

睿智的法國政治家和歷史學家托克維爾（Alexis de Tocqueville），對這些問題的答案做了總結，他稱之為「美國例外論」（American exceptionalism）。成為例外未必是更聰明或更好，只是不同而已。美國那時是與世界其他地方不同，美國革命也是空前絕後的。瞭解美國是何等獨特是很重要的，如此才能瞭解是什麼誕生一個世界從來沒有過的政府，並且存留如此長的時間。

要持續成為共和國，我們必須再次停泊並持守在建國根基上，直到如今。我們必須重新找到美國愛國者為自由而擁有的深度異象，這使他們能夠勝過所有不可能的分歧。什麼是如此深度又強而有力的異象呢？

美國開國元老都受到當時新一波的政治哲學家影響，其中最重要的哲學家是約翰.洛克 (John Locke)。雖然他們的想法出色又具革命性，但這仍不足夠。還加上了一個重要因素，才將想法提升到卓越異象，此重要因素就是早於革命幾十年前席捲殖民地的大覺醒運動。這是自由如何釋放人的靈魂以真理和誠實來敬拜神的啟示，如此的自由是何等重要，好使我們成為神創造的樣式。

美國開國元老深深相信神命令人得自由，凡是愛神與事奉神之人的基本責任就是協助釋放神的子民得著自由。這是比擺脫英國專制更大的異象。

世俗的歷史學家不會寫下這方面的東西，因為他們無法瞭解。修正主義學家更是想要湮滅任何這些愛國者的屬靈動機。然而，不去瞭解此就會曲解美國革命的神蹟，以及建立此永續長存共和國的智慧究竟從何而來。

我們的建國父老達到卓越是因為他們不單只想到自己、他們的世代或他們的下一代而已。他們更看到很遠的未來，他們立下指導方針來幫助未來世代如何通過未來必會臨到的反對、挑戰和危機。

美國開國元老所提供的根基，不僅能承受它所面臨的猛烈攻擊，還可以由未來的監護者繼續建造。他們建立了新共和國如此傑出的框架，可以修正錯誤，在保有人人自由平等的核心價值之際，又可以擁有使用新機會的彈性。

許多這些根基都被我們的政府除去，藉由那些刻意忽視憲法的激進法官與政客。這將共和國推向毀滅的懸崖邊緣搖搖欲墜。這些根基必須被恢復，否則我們將無法存留太久。

我們的開國元老在地圖沒有標誌的水域上航行，他們也沒有導航地圖去面臨挑戰。他們知道他們不單是在挑戰強大的大英帝國，更在挑戰世界其他政府的根基。要做到他們當時所做的，堪稱是社會和政治上有史以來最大的神蹟之一，更不用說是軍事神蹟了。我們可以也必須向他們學習。

老鷹是美利堅合眾國的國鳥；有人說老鷹可能是自然界中唯一喜歡暴風雨的生物，他們學到若以合適的角度靠近逆風，可以把他們帶向更高處。這很符合我們國家的象徵，因為我們共和國所面臨的每一個危機，到目前為止都把我們帶向更高處。

那麼，我們要如何決定合適的角度來面對逆境呢？老鷹向他們的父母學習，我們必須也開始這麼做。老鷹傾向獨立，很少群聚在一起，但當他們群聚時，便成為自然界最壯觀的景象。在人類歷史中有許多睿智的領袖，但多半是獨自站立的。美國歷史的獨特之處在於：它是由歷史上最卓越的一些人所聚集而成，他們全都是強大、獨立的思考者。如此的人能聚集在一起是很神奇的，但他們是以共同目的合而為一，在歷史上締造一個真正超越顛峰的神蹟。 

我們建國父老的獨特性與強大性格造成他們之間有許多碰撞，但他們有足夠智慧與成熟度來解決彼此的差異。此經驗允許他們組成一個和他們一樣的政府，一個在相異性上合一的政府，而不是一致性的合一。這只有在靈裡真正的自由才可能做成，這樣的自由只來自釋放我們得自由的真理。

有如此卓越的團體在同一時間活在同一國家，在數學上發生這樣巧合的可能性根本是微乎其微，這只能來自神的手。他們對此深信不疑，這與修正歷史學家試圖讓我們所相信的相反，正如我們將會看見的。

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～摘錄美國政治家/革命領袖─派屈克·亨利（Patrick Henry）～

閣下，這對企圖減輕問題毫無幫助。人們可能呼喊：和平，和平，但並沒有真正的和平。戰爭真的已經開始！從北方席捲而來的下一陣強風將讓我們聽見響亮的武器撞擊聲！我們的弟兄已經上了戰場！為什麼我們還站在這裏不動？

這些人到底想要什麼？他們會得到什麼？生命就這麼可貴，和平就這麼甜，以致可以用鎖鏈和奴役為代價把它們買來嗎？全能的上帝，禁止這種事情發生吧！我不知道別人會怎麼做，但是，對我而言，不自由，毋寧死！ 

～摘錄美國建國父老/第二任總統─約翰·亞當斯（John Adams）～

我所親愛的政治家，也許會有為自由而來的計畫與推測，但只有伴隨著宗教和道德才可以建立原則，讓自由得以穩固站立。

 (摘自喬納word for the week, Week3, 2020)
 

The Upside-Down Revolution—Heritage Brief 3

The American Revolution was unique from every other revolution in history in one profound way: it was not begun by the poor or oppressed, but rather by the wealthy and successful. Those who signed the Declaration of Independence had the most to lose by a revolution. Nothing like this can be found in recorded history. 

         What kind of vision could fire the souls of the most accomplished and comfortable to face such an impossible task of challenging the most powerful empire in the world? When they declared that they would sacrifice their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, it was almost certain that they would pay that price. Almost no one in the world gave them a chance of success, so what inspired such brilliant and accomplished people to do this?  

         Many in history had wanted liberty enough to fight for it. A measure of freedom was sometimes gained, but with every previous revolution the liberty was quickly lost. What made The American Revolution, and the Republic it birthed, different so that it has now been sustained for centuries? 

         The answer to these questions was summed up by the brilliant French statesman and historian Alexis de Tocqueville by what he called “American exceptionalism.” To be exceptional does not necessarily mean smarter, or even better, but different. America was different than any other place on earth at the time, and The American Revolution was not like any before it or since. Understanding how America is unique is essential to understanding what could birth a government like the world had never seen before, and sustain it for as long as it has.

         To continue as a Republic, we must moor ourselves once again to what made and kept it until now. We must recover the depth of vision that the American Patriots had for liberty, which enabled them to prevail against seemingly impossible odds. What was the basis of such a deep and powerful vision?

          The American Founders were all influenced by a new wave of political philosophers, John Locke being the foremost. As brilliant and revolutionary as their ideas were, it was not enough. There was a factor added that was essential for elevating it to become such a transcendent vision. This was birthed out of The Great Awakening that had swept through the colonies in the decades preceding the Revolution. It was a revelation of how liberty unlocked the soul of man to worship God in spirit and truth, and how this liberty was essential to becoming what God created us to be.

         The American Founders had a deep conviction that God Himself had mandated that men should be free, and that it was a basic duty of all who loved and served God to help set His people free. This was a greater vision than just throwing off British tyranny. 

         Secular historians have not written of this because the secular cannot understand it. Revisionist historians have sought to bury any mention of the Patriots’ spiritual motivation. Yet, to not understand this is to misunderstand the miracle of The American Revolution and where the wisdom came from to form a Republic that could last. 

         Our Founders touched the transcendent because they were not just thinking of themselves, their own times, or even their children’s times. They could see far into the future, and they laid out guidelines to help future generations navigate through the opposition, challenges, and crises that they knew would surely come. 

         The American Founders provided a foundation that could not only withstand the onslaught it faced, but one that continued to be built upon by its future custodians. They built into the framework of this new Republic brilliant methods to correct mistakes and a flexibility to seize new opportunities while maintaining the core values of liberty and justice for all. 

         Many of these provisions have been removed from our government by activist judges and politicians willing to ignore The Constitution. This has pushed the Republic to the point of tottering on the edge of the precipice of destruction. They must be recovered or we will not last much longer.

         Our Founders sailed into uncharted waters, and so they did not have maps for navigating the challenges to come. They understood that they had not just challenged the mighty British Empire, but the foundations of every other government in the world. To do what they did is one of the greatest sociological and political miracles ever, not to mention the military miracles. We can and must learn from them.

         The eagle is the national bird of the American Republic. It has been said that the eagle may be the only creature in nature that actually likes storms. They have learned that if they approach a contrary wind at the proper angle, it will carry them higher. This is fitting for our national symbol because every crisis our Republic has faced to date has carried us higher. 

         So, how do we determine the proper angle to face adversity? Eagles learn from their parents, and we must start by doing the same. Eagles tend to be independent and rarely flock together, but when they do it is one of the most magnificent spectacles in nature. There have been many brilliant leaders in human history, but most stood alone. American history is unique in that it was birthed by the gathering of some of the most extraordinary men in history, all of whom were strong, independent thinkers. That such would gather is remarkable, but that they came into unity with a common purpose makes this one of the truly extraordinary miracles in history.

         Our Founders’ uniqueness and strong character caused them to clash, but they were wise and mature enough to work through their differences. This experience allowed them to form a government that would, like them, be a unity of diversity, not a unity of conformity. This was only possible with a true liberty in spirit, one that can only come from the truth that sets us free.

         For such an extraordinary group to have lived at the same time, and in the same country, defies mathematical possibilities for coincidence. It could only have been the hand of God. They believed this deeply, contrary to what revisionist historians have tried to make us believe, as we will see.

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         “It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentleman may cry, peace, peace – but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? 

         “What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” – Patrick Henry

         “Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand.” – John Adams