In Cal Thomas’s, “Let the Countdown Begin”, (July 3rd Washington Times opinion pages) I respectfully offer a broader and more critical reflection on what it means to be an American. Especially within the context of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence over the next 365 days.
First, a geographic truth: America is not just one country. There are over 35 sovereign nations from Canada to Argentina within North, Central, and South America -- with a combined population of over 1 billion people. The United States has roughly a third of all Americans. And within some of these nations, especially the US, every nationality in in the world is represented - along with members within every religion. Being an “American” may be a ‘feel good’ slogan for many US citizens but Abraham Lincoln and the signers of the Declaration of Independence believe differently. Those signers ‘pledged to each other their “Lives...Fortunes and...sacred Honor” to the “self-evident” “Truths” based on “the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God”. These blessed everyone born with “unalienable Rights” to “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”. Happiness back then meant using one's freedom to find bliss in virtuously serving their community. Not the freedom we have today to do anything we like and then expect to be free of the consequences.
I have a
deep reverence for the ideals put forth in 1776: equality, liberty, unalienable
rights, and government by consent of the governed. These remain radical,
world-changing principles, and aspirational ideals that are undeniably profound.
That said, the U.S. Constitution engineered 11 years later when creating the United States of America, never delivered on those ideals for all people. The grand error of legalizing slavery led to a Civil War costing more U.S. than all those that have died in all the wars our nation has fought in since then. Combined! And only decades later women and Indigenous peoples recognize as full citizens.
Even today, the Declaration's grand ideals are undermined by voter suppression, racism, economic inequality,
and militarized foreign policies that sparked unnecessary wars and human suffering well beyond our shores. Even in other parts of “the Americas” where
we have played a direct and sometimes destructive role. We may forget, but others don't.
We claim to
champion human rights, yet our foreign policy remains selective. U.S. policies and tax dollars persist in putting the rights
of Israeli Jewish citizens, far above the lives and liberties of civilians in Gaza, Haiti,
Ukraine, multiple African nations, and most indigenous peoples. This is not the “liberty and justice for all”
we have pledged before our Stars and Stripes - and then teach our children to recite and ignore. It is only liberty and
justice for certain lives our mind's chose to value more.
Then repeat the pledge as if it’s a promise already fulfilled. True patriotism must include the courage to
admit where we fall short, not just the pride we feel in living here.
The
Founders, especially Washington, Adams, and Franklin, warned that our
constitutional republic would not survive without a virtuous people. If we are
honest, “virtue” is not the word that best describe the current state of our
political or civic culture. Self-interest has replaced self-sacrifice. Outrage
has overtaken responsibility.
I believe being
an American, means striving to live up to the founding principles of the Declaration
—not hiding behind the flag or misusing it to justify policies that betray
those very ideals. We can and must do better.
Let the countdown to the next Independence Day begin by recognizing humankind's irreversible interdependence upon nature and each other. Not as a celebration of history, but a commitment to our renewal of purpose, character, and truth, as Abraham Lincoln strove for.
Most Sincerely,
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