Daily (Victor Davis Hanson–style) Digital Life Litany for Protection, Direction and Stewardship

Caveat emptier: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant (Perplexity)— but ideated and edited extensively by the human, Bill Acton

Hoover Institution

Lord,
you know I’ve spent my days
thinking about republics,
wars, and the long arc
of civilizations.

In this instant age
of flickering headlines
and fleeting outrage,
teach me to remember
history.

When I see confusion,
division,
and digital mobs,
help me recall
that other societies
have walked similar roads—
and that decay often begins
with carelessness
about truth, duty,
and self‑restraint.

Protect me from the illusion
that technology alone
can save us,
or that comfort and convenience
are worth any surrender
of privacy and virtue.

Guard my household
like a small farmstead—
tended daily,
secured with simple,
consistent practices:
locked “gates” of passwords,
clean “fields” of updated devices,
neighbors warned
when wolves are near.

And grant that my stewardship
of this digital polis
shows gratitude
for what has been handed down,
honesty about present threats,
and hope that disciplined citizens
can still renew
what others took for granted
and lost.

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [Victor Davis Hanson] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [Victor Davis Hanson], and should not be taken as his real views or words.

wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com (Legalshield and IDshield subscription information and applying for associate positions)