In an obscure box, I uncovered an undated, mimeographed program for a monthly meeting of my then hometown Cub Scout pack. I am guessing it was from the early 1950s. One page of the program contains an essay written by the Cubmaster providing the theme for the next month's meeting, which would be in November. The essay was titled "Faith Of His Fathers". An excerpt is as follows:
"The main idea behind the theme is to make the Cubs realize how fortunate they are in being Americans. They should be thankful that they are living in a free country where the human rights of man are honored and respected.
"They should appreciate that our present way of life was brought about by that heroic band of people, the Pilgrims, who had the courage and fortitude to leave Europe and start their lives over again in a new land. One in which they could live and worship as they pleased. A land built upon Faith in God, man and human nature. This was the start of the 'American Way of Life'.
"... If the Pilgrims were willing to give up their homes, fight and even die for the privilege of living and worshiping as they pleased, the least we can do is to give thanks that we are Americans and have the American way of life."
In 2019, is the American Way of Life still the same as it was seventy years ago? Are the "human rights of man still honored and respected"? Do we still have "Faith in God, man and human nature"? When one reads and listens to media, drives on roads or walks in cities, what should we make of the anger, disrespect, self-interest and self-aggrandizement that we often experience?
Maybe there is a good reason why I saved this piece of paper, and why I will continue to save it. It is reminder. It may be beneficial to discard surplus paper, but it would be disastrous to discard the real American Way of Life.
© Daniel J. Kucera 2019
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