Entry 1: A New Nation

John Winthrop, a prominent puritan leader (first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and founder of Boston), while crossing the Atlantic from England on the way to the New World said, "For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword through the world..." What do you think of this statement, which makes an allusion to Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount". What does it tell us about the Puritans? Do you think that Americans fulfilled the destiny that Winthrop spoke about? Why or why not? Explain your answer in detail. 

• I believe that this statement gives me several different feelings. First, it shows people the confidence of the person who said this statement, along with the leading qualities of that person. Second, the tone of the quote shows its importance and significance. Finally, I believe that the quote is a reasonable one, since it was able to accurately depict how people would think.
• I believe that the Puritans are a group of determined people. After all, they were able to make through the harsh conditions of the new world and establish settlements. From the quote we are also able to tell that the Puritans are a group of very religious people, since they use the term "God" in a very respectful way.
• Though America is successful, I do not think that it fulfilled the destiny that Winthrop spoke about. This is because the Puritans are quite religious, and America, as we see now, is a cultural mix of many religions. I believe that the Puritans would hope that their nation is the nation of God. However, I believe that in other aspects such as economically and politically, America is quite successful.