Reader’s Corner: Read like the Founders

As July approaches, so do many commemorative events and special celebrations honoring the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. I plan to attend some of these events to celebrate our nation and the freedom we enjoy, and to recall the courageous early patriots who worked together to make America’s independence happen. 

Now it is up to us to continue making decisions that help maintain our freedom in a fast-changing world, and I believe one good way to equip ourselves for those decisions is to read! Our Founders were prolific readers who learned much from reading the history of empires, analyzing current philosophies and systems from their own era, and studying the patterns for good government in the Bible. In turn, they were also prolific writers, preserving their ideas for the benefit of future generations. 

As a former homeschool mom, I’ve read some of the Founders’ writings, including from “The Federalist Papers,” but I have to admit I haven’t referred to them often since that time. My “250 resolution” is to get out some of the materials I already own, dust them off, put them where they’re handy to grab and spend some time with them! 

Don’t own any such writings? No problem. That’s what libraries are for. There’s also a great selection at the Freedom Encounter Theater’s bookstore in Branson! To share the history with your kids and grandkids, check out children’s materials from Prager U; Dr. Ben Carson’s American Cornerstone Institute; Kirk Cameron; and others who have caught the vision of preserving our values through children’s literature. What a great gift idea for kids this year! 

Much has been written lately about the pros and cons of AI. While it can be a timesaving tool, it’s important to keep good materials circulating in our online searches, reflect our values in our book purchases, and produce our own writing and social media interaction, for AI to pull from when answering questions or compiling suggestions. Referring often to our Founders, both what they read and what they wrote, can help keep those important writings circulating; and owning at least a few physical books, as your space allows, not only keeps them handy but shows future generations that we valued them. (Don’t let me get started on the health benefits of shutting off screens in the evening and reading a print book.) 

Why not join me in making your own resolution to celebrate 250 years of America by revisiting—or visiting for the first time—some of the Founders’ writings? I’d love to hear about what you have read and learned!