The word tradition conjures up many images in our minds. One such image may be of the lovable Tevye from the musical Fiddler on the Roof (pictured on the left). Humble Tevye is a simple milkman who is charged with providing for his family and raising his girls to be good Jewish young ladies who will attract and marry nice Jewish men. He sings the beloved song, Tradition that explains what his life is all about.
Tradition, however, is more than just a song and it is vastly more than just “we’ve always done it that way”. Tradition is an inheritance that we have been lovingly given by our forefathers. It is the lifeline that keeps us from repeating the mistakes of previous generations.
It comes as no surprise that popular culture dislikes tradition. Ask any modern if they would rather be thought of as trendy or traditional and the response is overwhelmingly trendy. We no longer value the wisdom of past generations as a source of guidance and security. We have, therefore, set out on the stormy seas of human progress in a paper skiff made of hope and change. Unfortunately, many in our country fail to see as the boat begins to leak there is brewing a prefect storm of the consequences of unwise decisions that threatens to sink this precarious ship of state. And where is our captain in the midst of this mess? He is standing on the deck feverishly flipping through his copy of Rules for Radicals and ignoring the jaunts of petty dictators as they sail by in their battleships.
Tradition is not bad. Our President and his brain trust would do well to recognize that. Even if that means doing something that a previous administration did just because it is good for the country. It is the acme of ignorance to refuse tradition and trade the security of ones nation for the moniker of singularity. I hope that the American people will come to their senses before it is too late and place in power those people who respect the value of tradition.
