So, strike the "religious", if that'll make you happy. Adams, prude or not, is still right: the maintenance of this Republic requires a classically moral people, and by that I mean, not relativistic morality based on the "social justice" whims of the moment, but a morality that has stood the test of time: do unto others; fair play; equal justice; virtue; honor; integrity; loyalty; honesty; courage; commitment; et. al.
The nation may not have achieved this high standard, but by having the standard, it guarantees an attempt to reach it's lofty goals. Not doing so, throwing classical morality out, as the Left has done, guarantees failure on all levels, from personal failure, community failure, and regional failure, to the failure of the Republic. Maybe he was a prude but John Adams was no fool and is still right. Our present precarious situation proves it.
True Liberty is not license. True Liberty is responsibility, and only a temperate, restrained, self-sacrificing and moral people are capable of voluntarily accepting such responsibility, thereby maintaining their liberty. All others will exchange their freedoms for a little security (and "muh free stuff!"), and thus, as Franklin observed, will deserve, and have, neither.
Doesn't get more arrogant than your entire statement, bub. I am literally telling you about John Adams compared to the rest of them.
John Adams' statement is invalid because he was a prude. Got it.
So, strike the "religious", if that'll make you happy. Adams, prude or not, is still right: the maintenance of this Republic requires a classically moral people, and by that I mean, not relativistic morality based on the "social justice" whims of the moment, but a morality that has stood the test of time: do unto others; fair play; equal justice; virtue; honor; integrity; loyalty; honesty; courage; commitment; et. al.
The nation may not have achieved this high standard, but by having the standard, it guarantees an attempt to reach it's lofty goals. Not doing so, throwing classical morality out, as the Left has done, guarantees failure on all levels, from personal failure, community failure, and regional failure, to the failure of the Republic. Maybe he was a prude but John Adams was no fool and is still right. Our present precarious situation proves it.
True Liberty is not license. True Liberty is responsibility, and only a temperate, restrained, self-sacrificing and moral people are capable of voluntarily accepting such responsibility, thereby maintaining their liberty. All others will exchange their freedoms for a little security (and "muh free stuff!"), and thus, as Franklin observed, will deserve, and have, neither.
Winner! Well said.