Thursday 21 January 2010

‘My Creed,’ by Dean Alfange

Alfang 72

[Hat tip Doug Rasmussen]

11 comments:

Sean Fitzpatrick said...

Here here.

Anonymous said...

This is wonderful. It has a touch of "Invictus" about it, at least to my ears.

Chris R.

B Whitehead said...

very inspiring..

Anonymous said...

Damn straight!

Joe Luccioni said...

Sorry to say but "The Creed" by Dean Alfange that is posted has been edited. A whole paragraph has been left out I guess rewriting history means changing what a man actually wrote and thought. This is that paragraph:

I will never cower before any master nor bend to any thread. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself; enjoy the benefits of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, this I have done.
All this is what it means to be an American.

Anonymous said...

Joe, read it again. The paragraph you are talking about is there.

Anonymous said...

Here is "My Creed" as I found it on the back of an advertisement. "I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon. I seek opportunity to develop whatever talents God gave me-not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficience nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any earthly master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creation and to face the world boldly and say-"This with God's help, I have done." All this is what it means to be an American."

Anonymous said...

This is a truely Great poem by an American for Americans or those who seek to be one. After reading up on the man though, it is hard to understand that the mind that formed these words supported FDR and felt his "New Deal" didn't go far enough! I see it as a conflicting piece to the rest of his life.

Steel

Unknown said...

This is a quote by Thomas Paine, and is consistent with HIS charachter, writings, and actions.

Anonymous said...

Like many quotations on the Internet, this one by Dean Alfange has been erroneously credited, in this case to Thomas Paine. I yield to no one in my admiration for the intellect, intellectual perspective, and writing skills of the latter, however, Alfange, who, admittedly, was no Paine, was also an extremely skilled writer of poignant prose.

Anonymous said...

Way late to the party, but thought I'd throw it out there anyway, since I believe it can add to the discussion or reflection. Note that the title is actually "My Creed" or "An American's Creed" which makes it a statement of personal purpose, not a suggestion for others, which in turn might illustrate the differences in our two main political philosophies. Can I assert that there are many on the left who embrace this idea for themselves as both a motivator and a personal sense of responsibility, while also being able to acknowledge that we all do not have the same strengths and abilities, so taking one strong competent man's statement of purpose and saddling others who don't have the same strengths and abilities doesn't seem right to them.