WE THE PEOPLE

by Mike Laymon

Several years ago, after the terror attacks of September 11^th, I composed the narrative below, from a collection of great speeches, to celebrate and remember the great heritage of Presidential leadership in America… and to remind us of our purpose and calling, as Americans, in this generation and the next.  

This compilation presents as a multi-voice, single setting, “State of the Union” as such, and spans our nation's historical leadership, resolute, in difficult times. In all that we face today, and assuredly will face in years to come, I believe these ancient words are as relevant and inspiring as they were in the generations in which they were originally spoken.   

As you read through this speech, picture these seven leaders, standing before us, together as one, diverse and yet unified, delivering a message to pierce our heart and ignite our patriotism. Examine it all the way through.  And then, consider the responsibility we have been entrusted with, as Americans, to steward the legacy of freedom.

I have entitled this piece… “We The People”.  The video clip is a live presentation of the narrative written below...

“WE THE PEOPLE”

FOUR SCORE AND SEVEN YEARS AGO

our fathers brought forth on this continent

a new nation conceived in liberty

and dedicated to the proposition

that all men are created equal.

Abraham Lincoln (16^th U.S. President)

WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS to be sacred and undeniable;

that all men are created equal and independent,

that from that equal creation they derive rights

inherent and inalienable,

among which are

the preservation of life,

and liberty,

and the pursuit of happiness.

Thomas Jefferson (3^rd U.S. President)

CITIZENS, BY BIRTH OR CHOICE, of a common country,

that country has a right to concentrate your affections.

The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity,

must always exalt the just pride of patriotism.

George Washington (1^st U.S. President)

OURS WAS THE FIRST REVOLUTION in the history of mankind

that truly reversed the course of government,

and with three little words:

‘We the people.'

Almost all the world's constitutions  are documents

in which governments tell the people what their privileges are.

Our Constitution is a document in which

'We the people'

tell the government what it is allowed to do.

'We the people' are free.

Ronald Reagan (40^th U.S. President)

IN YOUR HANDS, MY FELLOW CITIZENS, more than mine,

will rest the final success or failure of our course.

Since this country was founded,

each generation of Americans has been summoned

to give testimony to its national loyalty.

The graves of young Americans

who answered the call to service

surround the globe.

John F. Kennedy (35^th U.S. President)

NOW WE ARE ENGAGED IN A GREAT CIVIL WAR

testing whether that nation,

or any nation

so conceived  and so dedicated,

can long endure.

We are met on a great battlefield of that war.

Abraham Lincoln (16^th U.S. President)

THE CORE OF OUR DEFENSE

is the faith we have

in the institutions we defend.

We must be the great arsenal of democracy.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (32^nd U.S. President)

THE ENERGY, THE FAITH, THE DEVOTION

which we bring to this endeavor

will light our country

and all who serve it

and the glow from that fire

can truly light the world.

John F. Kennedy (35^th U.S. President)

WE ARE A NATION THAT HAS A GOVERNMENT

not the other way around.

And this makes us special among the nations of the Earth.

Ronald Reagan (40^th U.S. President)

I ASK YOU TO UPHOLD THE VALUES OF AMERICA,

and remember why so many have come here.

We are in a fight for our principles,

and our first responsibility is to live by them.

George W. Bush (43^rd U.S. President)

THE BOISTEROUS SEA OF LIBERTY IS NEVER WITHOUT A WAVE.

We do then most solemnly, before God and the world declare …

to preserve that liberty which He committed to us in sacred deposit

and to protect from every hostile hand

our lives and our properties

Thomas Jefferson (3^rd U.S. President)

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT THEIR GOVERNMENT TO ACT, and not merely to talk,

whenever and wherever there is a threat to world peace.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (32^nd U.S. President)

THE COURSE OF THIS CONFLICT IS NOT KNOWN,

yet its outcome is certain.

Freedom and fear,

justice and cruelty,

have always been at war,

and we know that God is not neutral between them.

I know there are struggles ahead,

and dangers to face.

But this country will define our times,

not be defined by them.

As long as the United States of America is determined and strong,

this will not be an age of terror;

this will be an age of liberty,

here and across the world.
George W. Bush (43^rd U.S. President)

WE HAVE NO EXCUSE FOR DEFEATISM.

We have every good reason for hope

hope for peace, yes,

and hope for the defense of our civilization

and for the building of a better civilization in the future.

Let me assert my firm belief

that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (32^nd U.S. President)

AND SO, MY FELLOW AMERICANS:

ask not what your country can do for you

ask what you can do for your country.

My fellow citizens of the world:

ask not what America will do for you,

but what together we can do

for the freedom of man.

John F. Kennedy (35^th U.S. President)

…WE HERE HIGHLY RESOLVE that these dead shall not have died in vain,

that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom,

and that government of the people,

by the people,

for the people

shall not perish from the earth.

Abraham Lincoln (16^th U.S. President)

IN ALL THAT LIES BEFORE US,

may God grant us wisdom,

and may He watch over

the United States of America.

George W. Bush (43^rd U.S. President)