Since his day America has done some truly foul things. America split over slavery, and racism is still a huge issue today. Who holds these things to be self evident? What were they again? Something about equality?
War crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, the two nuclear bombs in Japan. Wasn't there something about life in that document that we are, as a nation, so proud of?
Guantanamo. The pursuit of happiness? Weren't there two wars fought on American soil for the freedom of its citizens?
I realize that I am making broad sweeping statements about a country that are wildly inaccurate in many places. I know that my examples might not be as precise as I would like them. However, I also understand that it isn't any one individual at fault, but at the same time, maybe we should realize our new place in the new world, and maybe that place isn't at the top. If we can live out our lives in peace and freedom, isn't that worth not sacrificing our founding principals? Wasn't freedom what Nathan Hale gave his life for? The men in Valley Forge? Should we let what they died for slip away from us?
3 comments:
Again, I'd comment, (I'm amazed I for the most part agree with you!) but you already know how I feel about such things. ;)
I agree with you: things are sufficiently screwed up in the good old U.S. Some hold our way of life up as an example of the endless possibilities created by consumerism, capitalism, and lots of other -isms. It's important to remember where we've come from as a nation and why we dumped tea in Boston Harbor back in the day. It's equally necessary for us to honor those around us on the global level who may not "live up to" our standards. That's part of what we're about as a country...accepting and embracing others' differences. Life doesn't normally shake out according to any idyllic standards. But without any conception of how high the bar should be raised, we are lost. Nice post. Sorry to muddy the waters with my own sweeping statements.
Somehow I thought this would be more controversial. Now I guess the question is how can the individuals in any given community change what the government does simply by the way they live their lives. Is it possible to resist new law changes without going rioting.
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