Posted on Oct 16, 2019
Which would you choose? What does this say about us? "Family and safety, or principles and freedom?
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Background: I teach South Carolina History to 8th graders. We're in the Revolutionary War in SC. I'm showing them the story of Captain Henrich "Henry" Felder, a Patriot militia leader in Orangeburg, in the movie "All For Liberty" (available on Amazon Prime). I'll later show them "The Patriot". Both movies deal with a question: "What of my family? Do I endanger their lives for my principles?" (asked in "All For Liberty") or "What of your principles Father?" "I'm a parent, I haven't the luxury of principles." (convo in "The Patriot")
In a viewing guide for the students, I asked them "What would you choose? Family or Principles/beliefs? Safety or freedom?" And to those that ask questions about it out loud, about 20 out of 40, every one of them has said "I'd keep my family safe." I get it, they're 8th graders. And I'm sure many of us who've served would say "principles of liberty and freedom". Though I myself certainly feel Mel Gibson's character's view, having two young sons, and must confess I don't know which I would choose.
So, which would you choose? Why? What does this say about us as military members? And what do their answers combined with ours say about America and her future? Are the ones who lean toward "principles" silent? What makes someone say "principles" or "family"?
What makes someone change between the two?
References
https://allthingsliberty.com/2013/01/all-for-liberty/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXWQlPQZ59Q (Mel Gibson's The Patriot: An Historian's View)
In a viewing guide for the students, I asked them "What would you choose? Family or Principles/beliefs? Safety or freedom?" And to those that ask questions about it out loud, about 20 out of 40, every one of them has said "I'd keep my family safe." I get it, they're 8th graders. And I'm sure many of us who've served would say "principles of liberty and freedom". Though I myself certainly feel Mel Gibson's character's view, having two young sons, and must confess I don't know which I would choose.
So, which would you choose? Why? What does this say about us as military members? And what do their answers combined with ours say about America and her future? Are the ones who lean toward "principles" silent? What makes someone say "principles" or "family"?
What makes someone change between the two?
References
https://allthingsliberty.com/2013/01/all-for-liberty/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXWQlPQZ59Q (Mel Gibson's The Patriot: An Historian's View)
American History
Military History
Freedom
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
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Family and Safety... Your principles are meaningless if you have them in the rubble of all the things you loved and lost. Principles don't love you. They don't hug you or say "I love you daddy". Family is the whole point of everything. You have nothing if it costs you your family. The freedom to bury and mourn your loved ones? Yeah, you can keep that. Life without substance and meaning is pointless.
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LCDR (Join to see)
Excellent thoughts! For myself, I'd go with freedom. But as a father, I go with family. I pray I'm not in a situation like those men (real or fictional) during the Revolution who have to decide. Maybe this is what I should teach my students in a lesson, and give them a life-lesson to ponder over.
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How about a follow up question for your discussion. You discover that your older brother is selling drugs manufactured by a local gang to other kids in the neighborhood. You read a report in the newspaper that a locally manufactured drug has caused three deaths and police are concerned that use is spreading and there will be more deaths. You've tried to convince your brother to stop what he is doing. For purposes of the discussion, we are going to remove your option of going to your parents and leave you with two choices. You know that there will be anguish in your family if your brother's activities are made public, so for the sake of your family, you say nothing to anyone; or, You realize that what your brother is doing endangers not only the kids who buy the drugs, but subjects your family to possible violence, so you report your brother to the police because you are concerned about the public good.
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LCDR (Join to see)
I like it sir! Would never have thought of it, but that certainly can tie their present choices into choices those in history had to take. Thank you so much!
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