Roy Exum
There is an ever-growing movement in America that yearns for society to embrace proven values. Instead of raucous protests, weekend shootings and “the age of anger,” a huge majority really want America to return to God, embrace country and revere our families. Charles Dennison, a reader of the Epoch Times who lives in Maryland, just submitted his views to the newspaper’s “Dear Next Generation” feature that imparts wisdom to those who will follow.
His values are not new by any stretch.
Even the “woke” realize that values stemming from religion, patriotism, and families are achingly vacant when almost every one of the experts will tell us that respect for America’s traditions would solve a lot of our heartache right now.
Those who scoff at religion are the very ones who instantly grasp for our faith in every tragedy, and those who protest don’t understand our freedoms enable them to act like fools. Fatherless children are the reason we have four kids 15 years old – and one 13 years old – shot on Chattanooga streets in our first of two mass shootings in the past month.
Here’s Mr. Dennison’s letter to “The Next Generation” …
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BELIEVE IN GOD, AMERICA & FAMILY
Written by Charles B. Dennison from Maryland for “Dear Next Generation” in the Epoch Times
I’ve been blessed to be the father of three sons who have all grown up to be good men. Based on my childhood alone, this shouldn’t have been possible and, to be completely honest, I shouldn’t be here today. That being said, the challenges I faced as a child are minor compared to those that our young people face today. Here are three values that carried me and will carry a young person today …
BELIEVE IN GOD -- You might call it karma; some will call their belief by a different name. What’s important is that you must believe there’s something more than us. God, or as I sometimes say, “the head coach,” has carried me many times. So many times that no matter how much I do for others, I can never match what has been done for me.
BELIEVE IN AMERICA -- This is especially hard for young people today, as many politicians and educators are fixated on forcing you to believe America is an evil country and that our way of life must be destroyed. Our young people must be shown the truth, shown that our great nation has lifted the lives of more people than any country in human history. The clearest proof of this is the millions of people flooding over the southern border. People travel from every corner of the world with the hope of being an American.
BELIEVE IN FAMILY -- This is another challenge faced by our young people today, as many don’t have strong families to rely on, to count on for support. Who will they turn to? The best answer I can give them is to tell them who I turned to, God and country. While I didn’t have the support of family, I did have an unwavering belief that God was with me and that I lived in a country where if I worked hard and followed the rules and laws of our society, I would be successful.
There are many other values that are critical for all of us to follow, but if your foundation includes the three values I listed, the rest will follow.
An American,
Charles B. Dennison, Maryland
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royexum@aol.com