42 Whole Number 227
Sad that both missed it, but ultimately, this wave of Martorelli’s reference to 1940’s marriage is a good
humanity would indeed adapt, learn the language and stepping off point. The revolution to easy divorce in
customs, and assimilate into the greater culture, for the 1970’s, children notwithstanding, inter-racial and
this was still the era of the melting pot. inter-faith marriage (disruptive to some), the quest for
Currently, we stress over foreign languages (a key
same-sex marriage, pre-nuptial agreements, blatant
determinant of culture), and peculiar (to us) dress. W
White House extra-marital philandering, child cus-
e
definitely anger over “please press one for English”.
tody battles, wholesale illegitimacy per group rang-
Some are upset when sections of a town are flooded
ing from 25% to 70%, the glorification of single
by this or that new group, and their ‘funny’ food at
parenting . . .. All would be mystifying and alien to
first is joked at, though if it’s good, it quickly be-
Martorelli’s rugged hometown heroes of World War
comes ‘American’. But we usually do not stress over
II.
religion, thanks to the wisdom of the Founding Fa- Founding Father’s Faith
thers and our First Amendment guarantees.
Most Founding Fathers were well-schooled in Greek,
Wither Those Core Values? Latin, and Hebrew so they could read Holy Writ in
Where are the core values that brought America to
the original tongue. But were they really believers as
prominence? Immigration or not, is the original
had been their fathers? Some had a profound prob-
American fiber and values dying away? What was
lem accepting unquestioning religious belief and re-
the primary mechanism, the glue, which seemed to
quirements. It was the Age of Reason and Science
hold us together for almost 200 years?
after all.
Despite the magic bond of patriotism forged among
Still, the early Congress prayed and invoked Almighty
fighters against a common enemy, and victory over
protection for the cause. But General Washington re-
them in Washington’s day, the sanctified Declaration
frained from using the word ‘God’. He chose instead
and Constitution, there were even older principles
‘Divine Providence’ or ‘Divine protection’ to make a
common to most every American.
point. These terms are deist vocabulary (deist and
deity stem from ‘God’ in Latin), and Deists saw God
The Founding Fathers’ fathers obeyed the
10 Commandments as best they could and
the Sermon on the Mount’s injunction to
‘love thy neighbor’, with unquestioned
understanding that neighbors shared the
same beliefs and attitudes. Churches edu-
cated our character long before we had
benefit of an education system or
Jefferson’s righteous words.
No boundaries?
We still share some of the aspirations of
Revolutionary America: a life free from
interference, personal liberty, and an un-
hindered though not guaranteed opportu-
nity to secure happiness. However, we are
worlds apart from the decent American
character of the 1950’s, 60’s and even 70’s,
as my friend believes, let alone that of the
16 or 1700’s, because today few of us ac-
cept that there are ethical and moral bound-
aries. Ed says, liberty has become license
without restraint. But this is the definition
Figure 4 A faint Pittsburgh dial lower left for JUN 3 1812, and a
of chaos.
typical Quaker docketing, reminding that the letter was written the
day before on 6th month 2nd [day] 1812. Does mail go to Wilmington
DE from Pittsburgh in one day today?
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82