GUEST COLUMNIST Week of July 5, 1998 |
JULY FOURTH CELEBRATES AMERICA'S AND THE WEST'S CORE
VALUES
by Edwin A. Locke
Senior Writer, Ayn Rand Institute
FULTON'S COMMENTARY ON THIS ARTICLE: |
During the American Revolution, many foreigners came to America to help the American patriots in their battle against the British. One such person was a German officer who worked with George Washington. The German officer was attempting to bring some discipline to Washington's troops. He told a story about his experience, a story which was profoundly revealing. He said that in Europe if he instructed a soldier to follow a certain military procedure, the European soldier automatically obeyed. But the American soldiers under Washington's command would only obey his instructions after he explained the reason for the procedure.
American revolutionaries fought against blind obedience and for dealing with others by means of reason, by means of persuasion.
Edwin Locke's informative essay makes clear that American culture, as symbolized by the American Revolution, stands on the three R's of philosophy: Reality, Reason and Rights.
Fulton Huxtable
July 5, 1998
Copyright © 1998. All rights reserved.