James Russell Lowell, it is said, was asked by the French historian, Guizot, "How long will the American Republic endure?" To which Lowell replied, "As long as the ideas of the men who founded it continue dominant."
The primary goal of education in America, at the time of its founding and for many years thereafter, was to inculcate the ideas of liberty and of the philosophy and principles of the Declaration of Independence (Creator-endowed life, liberty, rights and laws for human happiness) so that rising generations would recognize the opposing ideas of tyranny and oppression and know how to defend their liberty.
Sadly, in recent decades, the Founders' ideas have been largely ignored or deliberately censored out of our teaching and learning institutions.
America's founding ideas produced a constitutionally limited government, leaving citizens free to pursue happiness and enjoy the "Blessings of liberty" and peace as long as they did not violate the rights of fellow citizens. As Jefferson put it, "No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another; and this is all from which the laws ought to restrain him."
Ideas have consequences! (Weaver) The idea of Creator-endowed life and liberty and rights (the pursuit of happiness) is powerful!
If articulated and spread, that idea can defeat counterfeit ideas that enslave minds, deny liberty, and result in death.
It is time to recognize the opponent is tyranny and oppression and to fight the battle at hand with the ideas of liberty!
That's true. I'll look into that, although I am retiring from the university, I would still get a chance to know folks here.