Principles to strive for and to live by.  

                                                   VIRTUE

    Lets start with Benjamin Franklin.  He stated that "only a virtuous people are capable of freedom."  What is virtue?  When was the last time that you even heard the word mentioned?  What a change there would be in our young people, if virtue were taught and practiced.

     Virtue is: Moral goodness, temperance, chastity, charity, and excellence, according to Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language.

                                              CHASTITY

     When was the last time that you heard the word chastity used?  What is chastity?: Chastity is purity of the body; freedom from all unlawful commerce (sexual intercourse) of sexes.  Purity before marriage.  Fidelity after marriage.

                                                MORALITY

     What is Morality?  Moral duties, ethics, virtue, justice, conformity to divine law.  Wouldn't it be great if our polititians would follow these guidelines?  The Founders not only spoke of these things, but they practiced them.

                                                CHARITY

     What is Charity?  Charity is love, benevolence, good will, kindness, affection, tenderness, liberality to the poor, giving, to think and judge favorably in words and actions.

                                                HONOR

     What about Honor?  To revere, to reverence, to dignify. Respect, adore, to elevate, to exalt, to treat with civility.

                                                HONESTY

     Where is Honesty today?  Honesty is: A disposition too conform to justice and correct moral principles.

                                                ETHICS

    A code of of morals and standards by which to live.  Thomas Jefferson said that the ethics taught in the Christian Bible are the highest of any religion and an ideal for which we should strive.

                                                INTEGRITY 

    Having it is being morally sound, upright, honest, and sincere.  Integrity as such must by nature be based on the guiding principles of the Bible, and is diametrically opposed to the attitude that makes a person want to do just what he can get away with.  

                                               PATRIOTISM

     Last, but not least, where is the Patriotism?  Patriotism: Love of ones country; service, defense, protecting its rights and maintaining it's laws and purity.  A good citizen.  I am proud of our country and what it has achieved, in becoming a world leader in protecting freedom and liberty and providing charitable assistance to nations and people in trouble.

I believe in these things and try to live up to them as best I can.  I also expect this of the people in public life and in public office.  I am saddened whenever I hear otherwise.  I hope you feel the same.  I welcome your response!  Please address comments to me, Jerry Rutherford, at lexrex2@hotmail.com, or refer to the "contact us" tab on the website. Thank you!