Thought for the day
I'll let the post author describe the quote author, then the quote itself. If you follow the link back to the original post, then you will find a very interesting story about how he found it.
Dean Alfange was an American statesman born December 2, 1899, in Constantinople (now Istanbul). He served in the U.S. Army during World War I and attended Hamilton College, graduating in the class of '22. Alfange was the American Labor candidate for governor of New York and a founder of the Liberal Party of New York. He wrote a creed on what it meant to him to be an American. Here it is, as he wrote it:
This was a time when Liberal wasn't the dirty word it has become today. This following quote represents everything that America is supposed to represent; what every American should aspire to.
Here it is:
I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon..If I can. I seek opportunity..Not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself; enjoy the benefits of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, "this, I have done".All this is what it means to be an American.
"I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me."
"I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout."
These words are proud, independent words. Ones that do not represent the Liberals of today. I hope to live up to these words, they make me feel proud and strong. More Americans should live like this. We would not have the problems we have today if more people took these words to heart.
Thanks, Mike.