While Ronald Reagan was giving his farewell address, he mentioned his vision of a “city upon a hill”. He said he conceptualized the city as “ a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace”. He revered his opinion greatly, but he was too idealistic, neglecting the actuality of the world around him. He imagined America the way he wanted it to be without taking into account that the physical world has many underlying problems that need to be addressed in order to make a perfect city a reality. This led him to misuse John Winthrop's idea of a City Upon a Hill, as he imagined a utopian America that was too unrealistic. While Ronald Reagan was blinded
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Winthrop knows the first step to conceiving perfection is to look for problems, and that is what he did. He talked about god’s forgiveness because he wants people to know that making mistakes is alright, and that they can be overcome it with god’s love and true dedication towards building a perfect city. For example, he knows that there is a limit to asking money from the rich, so that is why he mentions that “... the exhortation must be general and perpetual, with always in respect of the love and affection to riches”. He knows that there is a limit to giving to the poor, but he still wants to encourage people to give. He also wants people to understand that god will not sin them for not giving mercy, and that “he is worse than an infidel who through his own sloth and voluptuousness shall neglect to provide for his family”. Winthrop is realistic about the fact that before charity and god, family comes first. He also does not want people to be lazy however, and that is why he urges them to work hard to keep a surplus of money. He understands the limit to pleasing god and that is why he repeatedly mentions how god will help them and forgive them. By understanding the extent to which people can give and please god, Winthrop was able to work around this issue to keep his dream of a city upon a hill
Winthrop knows the first step to conceiving perfection is to look for problems, and that is what he did. He talked about god’s forgiveness because he wants people to know that making mistakes is alright, and that they can be overcome it with god’s love and true dedication towards building a perfect city. For example, he knows that there is a limit to asking money from the rich, so that is why he mentions that “... the exhortation must be general and perpetual, with always in respect of the love and affection to riches”. He knows that there is a limit to giving to the poor, but he still wants to encourage people to give. He also wants people to understand that god will not sin them for not giving mercy, and that “he is worse than an infidel who through his own sloth and voluptuousness shall neglect to provide for his family”. Winthrop is realistic about the fact that before charity and god, family comes first. He also does not want people to be lazy however, and that is why he urges them to work hard to keep a surplus of money. He understands the limit to pleasing god and that is why he repeatedly mentions how god will help them and forgive them. By understanding the extent to which people can give and please god, Winthrop was able to work around this issue to keep his dream of a city upon a hill