Preserving the homefront

The law of increasing entropy (the second law of thermodynamics) tells us that all things, over time, will deteriorate.  It says the universe is always moving towards a greater state of disorder, or entropy.  Cars rust, our bodies break down with age, and civilizations eventually fall into a state of decline.   This is inevitable and cannot be halted or reversed unless (there is hope!) a new source of energy is infused. 

When a person, family, community or nation degenerates, apart from a new source of work or energy transfer, it first starts slow, and then after some time, it goes fast.  To preserve the homefront, the citizenry must be the vanguard that contributes to that new source of energy, and it must do whatever work is needed to help reverse the marked deterioration of our local and national society.  In short, the role of “We the People” is to be a homefront vanguard and the mission must be to protect, preserve and perpetuate the homefront. 

The word “vanguard” has a twofold designation:  (1) a group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas, and (2) the foremost part of an advancing army.  So it takes citizen-leaders and it does involve a battle of sorts – no way around it.  Because we’re in a war of ideas, It will embody a small advancing army that leads the way in the healthiest developments and the best ideas. 

More often than not, these “best ideas” end up being little more than the resurfaced old ideas of days gone by and past civilizations.  Because there is nothing new under the sun, there is much wisdom to be found in the great minds and great ideas
of antiquity.  

For example, to say that the American homefront begins at home is certainly not a new concept, but it has been a vanishing one in our
contemporary world as guiding principles go.  Nevertheless, it is still true and one of the best ideas out there. In fact, we could say that it is absolutely true, meaning it is always true for all people in all places at all times.  Whether it’s the local or national community – one’s hometown or homeland – it all begins (for good or for ill) back at the homestead.  

If the cornerstone of society is the institution of the family, then protecting the rights of liberty and preserving the rule of law is, ultimately, all about protecting and preserving the family.  The Founders believed this.  

Civic governance and civil engagement is a community-centered activity, whether it’s local, state or federal.  Since the familial community is a child’s first taste of community life, how it cares about and interacts with its hometown and homeland (or not) is very much influenced by its home life experience.  Therefore, it goes without saying that because it remains a child’s most primitive form of civic life – because the American homefront begins at home – so must we.  

Any discussion on public service that does not begin with a discussion on the condition of the American home misses the boat entirely and will forever be dealing with symptoms.  Societal ills are family ills; an apathetic citizenry comes from apathy at home.  An angry populace reflects rage at home, and a largely uninformed citizenry smacks of a family life that is either too busy, too stressed or too self-absorbed to pay attention. Every form of community (civic,
scholastic or ecclesiastic) is colored and informed by the health and stability of familial dynamics.  It’s a nation’s greatest strength, or most threatening weakness

So “We the People” do well when we renew our devotion to strengthening the homeland by fortifying our hometowns.  But we do even better when we start with the homestead where it all begins and ends. Prudently caring for our towns and cities means making government work for our families rather than the other way around.      

In short, we promote the homefront when we perpetuate the homeland, by protecting our hometowns, by preserving the homestead.  And that is best done domestically and politically in two ways:  (1) the rule of law,  and (2) the rights of liberty.  More on both another time …

Brian Schroeder is the former Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction, an ordained minister and founder/president of The ChrisCorps Commission (bschroeder081858@gmail.com)