Over the years 1934-1961, British historian Arnold Toynbee published his 12-volume “A Study of History.”

Toynbee studied the rise and fall of 23 civilizations. His conclusion was that great civilizations die not from external causes but from internal causes.

They commit suicide.

Toynbee concluded, in the words of one journalist, that “civilizations start to decay when they lose their moral fiber.”

We don’t have to be great historians to know that civilizations have come and gone. Forever is not a given fact of life.

In this vein, in this political season, with the excitement of an upcoming election in which we will choose who holds the highest office in our government for four years, as well as elections for the Senate and the House, I pray for a grand national awakening.

It is the business of politicians to aspire to power, to tell us that our problems are because of the other party, and to divert........

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