I have walls of books in my office and upstairs in my music room and some days I just pull out a book at random and open it up and start reading. Today I read about Carlos P. Romulo, who was a soldier, statesman and Philippine patriot. He served with General Douglas Mac Arthur during World War II and helped in the creation of the United Nations. Then he was Philippine Ambassador to this country and a former president of the U.N. General Assembly. When he left America for the last time he said this.”I am going home, America —Farewell. For seventeen years, I have enjoyed your hospitality, visited every one of your fifty states. I can say I know you well. I admire and love America. It is my second home. What I have to say now in parting is both a tribute and a warning. Never forget, Americans, that yours is a spiritual country. Yes, I know that you are a practical people. Like others, I have marveled at your factories, your skyscrapers and your arsenals. But underlying everything else is the fact that America began as a God loving, God fearing, God worshiping people, knowing that there is a spark of the Divine in each one of us. It is this respect for the dignity of human spirit which makes America invincible. May it always endure.
And so I say again in parting, thank you, America and farewell. May God keep you always—and may you always keep God.”
Following his return to his home he enjoyed an outstanding literary and business career and he died in 1985.
I wonder if he could return to the United States today just how he would feel about how we had done, keeping God in our way of doing things.
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