Page 120 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2021- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

It's Fitting that

We Say "Thank You"

by Phil Johnson

Justice, Texas Supreme Court, Retired

ver two hundred governments – state and and airmen to defend what
years ago, persons federal – have only those has been so dearly acquired
Ofrom many countries powers we as citizens and passed down to us:
began leaving their homes delegate to them. In other freedom and individual
for a “New World” where words, our governments rights.
they had heard they could govern only with the
live, provide for their consent of the governed. In his Gettysburg address,
families, and worship The Tenth Amendment President Lincoln referred
free from oppressive to our Constitution so to the unfinished work of
governmental interference. specifies: preserving the union and its
It took great courage for benefits. Paraphrased, his
those first pilgrims to leave The powers not delegated words remain applicable
their native homelands and to the United States by the today:
Inspiration
build a new order in a new Constitution, nor prohibited
land. Little did they know by it to the States, are reserved Let each of us resolve that those
that eventually they would to the States respectively, or to who have sacrificed and died so
fight a revolutionary war to the people. we may enjoy the blessings of
secure their independence. liberty will not have sacrificed
Little did they anticipate The constitutional and died in vain. Let us each
the full cost of that struggle: reservation of powers commit to the proposition that
most lost family members, to the people burdens this nation, under God, and its
friends, or fortunes; many us as individuals with government of the people, by
lost all three. responsibilities. For the people and for the people
example, with the right shall be preserved for the
It has not been easy for of freedom of speech and generations that follow us.
Americans to preserve expression comes the
what was begun so long obligation to speak out and As a judge, I have attended
ago. Wars and armed to make our voices heard on ceremonies at which
conflicts, including a civil issues of importance. The immigrants to this country
war, two world wars, and right to vote is accompanied have completed their
a war on terror, have tested by the obligation to become naturalization process to
whether such a radical informed about issues and become citizens. Invariably,
new social order, as was candidates and vote. The the new citizens have
established in America, right to a jury trial is paired expressed how much
could be maintained. The with the obligation to serve it means to them to be
tests continue: totalitarian as a juror when you are Americans and how they
governments that deprive called to do so. In short, it is will never forget the day
their people of basic human by fulfilling the obligations they became an American
rights by force of arms have of being good citizens that citizen.
committed to dismantling we secure the blessings of It is fitting that all
the governmental structure Liberty and the benefits Americans – those by
of the United States, of our way of life to our birth and those by choice
imposing their totalitarian children, our grandchildren – should pause each year
will on our populace. and their posterity. to celebrate America’s
And always comes the
In contrast to such responsibility for some to birthday. But it is also
totalitarian regimes, our serve as soldiers, sailors, fitting that we as Americans

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