There are moments when you think something is going to happen, but when it does, you’re still not quite ready for it. It hits you like a kick-in the gut — a sharp pain at first, and then a lingering ache.
This was what I felt upon hearing the Supreme Court’s decision to redefine marriage and the media’s jubilation thereafter.
To keep this in perspective, when this issue of whether marriage would be redefined, or retain the meaning it has had since the history of humanity, went to the ballot box, the American people overwhelmingly voted to keep the traditional meaning of marriage.
And this was not done out of bigotry, or ignorance, but out of respect to the fact that words and institutions have a definitive meaning.
And just as the Supreme Court opened the door to the removal of prayer from schools in the 1960s and the killing of pre-born babies in the ’70s, many of us felt the foundations of our nation shift when this decision was passed.
Subsequently, I receive emails and have conversations where I can hear and read that many of us are losing heart. At the center of such sentiment is the question, “Why should I put my energy into fighting against the transformation of this country, for whether it is politically, legally, or culturally, we seem to be losing the war anyway?”
My answer to this question is that at some point, those of us who love this country and its traditional values will have to come together and resist its fundamental transformation. We must never lose heart, because we have three things on our side.
First, despite what is being promoted by most of the media, in pop culture, and what is being taught in many of our colleges, statistics show that the majority of Americans — across political and racial lines — still do hold traditional values.
As incredible as this may seem, just know that what we see and read in the media is not reflective of the values and beliefs of our country any more than reading daily criminal headlines is an indication that the majority of Americans are criminals.
I say this because, again, when the issue was taken directly to the American people on whether marriage should be redefined, we voted against it. Yet, I hardly saw any news stories or pictures reflecting this consensus from most of the major networks.
To the contrary, most of the media seemed to celebrate the recent “historic event,” and in doing so evidenced that they moved from being purveyors of information to propagandists.
Second, this Fourth of July, I was reminded of the many battles and sacrifices Americans made to see the dream of this country realized. Then the thought occurred to me that one of the key differences between the battles they faced — when they resisted, arguably one of the greatest military forces on earth, the British — and those we face today, is that political leaders, military and civilian alike, had the humility to acknowledge the hand of God in our destiny, and they were willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of this cause.
Whether it was the American Revolution, the War of 1812, or World Wars I and II, America has never lost a war — no matter how formidable the foe — when she had the will to fight. What we are experiencing now, are forces from within that are eroding that will to fight. I am willing to fight for traditional values no matter what the culture says.
Finally, we must never lose heart, because even when we see the foundations being destroyed, and we tend to re-evaluate what is true, or real, and what is worth fighting for.
Although many of our major institutions are being secularized, it is clear that our country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, and we are filled with citizens who are humble and noble, that desire to do what is right. One simply has to recite the pledge of allegiance and listen to its every words to know that this is true.
We do not shift positions with the changing of the culture; we stand firm on what is true. There is power and confidence in knowing that you stand in the truth, in love, for your neighbors, in love for your enemies, and in love for your country.
So, to those who feel discouraged, I simply say, do not lose heart. We are in the majority, and we stand in the shoes of our forefathers. We have the truth of God on our side. This country and our children are worth fighting for. So stand, do not be silent, and fight!
[Bonnie B. Willis is co-founder of The Willis Group, LLC, a Learning, Development, and Life Coaching company here in Fayette County and lives in Fayetteville along with her husband and their five children.]
