July 4. What an exciting day it is for me as I write this
blog. It is a day for me to stop and reflect on the great Founders of our
nation – both the well known husbands and their incredible wives. I am a big
Revolutionary War era history fan, and only on July 4 can I combine the
greatness of America’s founders with food and health!
If you want to a great read, check out 1776 by
David McCullough, followed by his book John Adams. Absolutely awesome. After
reading these books I understood bravery, boldness, skepticism, creativity, energy,
sacrifice, and so much more. The great Founding Fathers and Mothers stood up to
the most powerful nation in the world, when they had almost nothing in
comparison, and said "Enough". They craved liberty, which Thomas Jefferson
brilliantly expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
George Washington inspired the men to fight for freedom
during a brutal eight year war with Great Britain. The hardship he and
the men endured is unimaginable today, and the miracles that they accomplished
are amazing. When money to finance the war was unavailable and hope seemed
lost, John Adams created the alliances in Europe that were necessary in order
for America to win the war. He almost killed himself doing it.
How does this apply to your health? The lessons drawn
from these great men and women put today’s hardships into serious perspective.
Today, American citizens as a whole are controlled by corporations. They are
told what they need and what they should buy. They are told that they should
Super Size it. Whatever “it” is, it is hardly food. The “food” that Americans
are told to eat is highly processed and addictive. Most Americans are losing
their health (or already have lost it), and they have given their liberty to
corporate America.
I am astonished by how many people are blind to the
takeover of their freedoms. Fortunately, an awakening is occurring, with awareness
of local, healthy unprocessed food from small farmers growing. I wish that each
of us could convince three people to reject corporate America and its poisonous
food in favor of food that nourishes us, clears our heads and makes us strong.
Thomas Jefferson said it best: “Every generation needs a new revolution.”
Now is the time to take control of our health. This is easy in comparison to
what Jefferson and other Founders had to undergo in order to gain their
liberty.
John Adams (my favorite revolutionary) stated: “In politics the middle way is none at all.” Taking control of your
health is a journey of many steps, just as the Revolutionary War was. It has
been a six year journey for my family, and we have come far. Some people
criticize us and some people are threatened by us, but we are not going to
slide backwards and lose our health and freedom. Once you regain yourself,
there is no middle way.
Benjamin Franklin was a prolific
wordsmith and is the most quoted Revolutionary leader. This quote is timeless and
has taken on a new meaning today when applied to America: “I saw few die of
hunger; of eating, a hundred thousand.” Could that be any truer in America? So
much food, and most of it poison. Cancer, heart disease, diabetes are all on
the rise.
How long did these great men live? They
all ate healthy, unprocessed food and they all exercised. Thomas Jefferson died
of natural causes at 83. John Adams died of natural causes at age 90. Jefferson
and Adams were very close friends for a number of years and then fell out. In
their later years they rekindled their strong friendship and both died within
hours of each other on July 4, 1826 - the 50th anniversary
of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Ben Franklin was 84 when his
adventure ended in 1790, and what an adventure it was!
Adams enjoyed the longest and most robust
health. All three men had healthy minds until the end. Considering their
incredible lives and the many perils they survived without the help (or
detriment) of modern medicine and modern food processing, their stories are energizing.
Ask yourself if you would like to be a revolutionary and lead a vibrant and groundbreaking
life as exemplified by these men, or would you rather fully relinquish your
liberty and be controlled by the corporate "food" and medicine machines. The takers of freedom would prefer
for you to acquire diabetes or cancer as you continue to eat their “food”
and then be filled full of drugs to prolong your “life.” Which would you prefer?
What a great post! I tried to say something similar, but you did it so much better than I had.
Posted by: Hanlie | July 05, 2009 at 02:19 AM