We the People: Lest We Forget Our Nation’s History

Like you (hopefully), I love America. What’s not to love about an old lady or man who’s 250 years old? Truth be told, there’s plenty not to love because like each of us, Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam are human. They’ve—we’ve—made colossal mistakes, but they’ve also done a lot of good and achieved feats no other nation in history accomplished. Think of it: There’s only one national flag “fluttering” on the moon.

The countdown has begun to our semiquincentennial, the 250^th birthday of the founding of the Republic. America will need to nearly double that time to equal the longevity of the Roman Republic, but, nonetheless, it’s the oldest in modern times. It’s endured by weathering all manners of assaults, both from without and within.

That said, there’s no guarantee America will last another 250 years, or even one. Right now, it’s our turn to carry the torch of liberty over the next leg of the journey. It isn’t nor will it be easy given how the terrain ahead has become strewn with obstacles. To navigate through that successfully, we need to own it all: the good, the bad, and the ugly of our past and present.

In A Certain Idea of America, Peggy Noonan posits, “We see this best when we don’t deny our history but tell the whole messy, complicated, embarrassing, ennobling tale.”

Ms. Noonan wrote that in context of an anecdote about two Civil War generals, who were once the closest of friends but ended up opposing each other at Gettysburg. I maintain her maxim holds even for the ignoble and unseemly aspects of our history. Because if we close our eyes and deny our past failings, we won’t be able to recognize and repel the pernicious assaults being launched today. It’d be a form of living in la-la land.

It’s likely most Americans can readily cite many of our past triumphs, from ending slavery and ensuring the continuation of the Republic by remaining steadfast throughout a bloody civil war to the lunar landing. But many are unable or unwilling to do a deep dive in the atrocities committed in the name of America. They’d rather divert their eyes from learning about horrific events like the massacres at Sand Creek, Ludlow, and Tulsa.

By including the phrase, “to form a more perfect union,” in the Preamble, the Founders were admitting up front the Republic needed a lot of work before it could attain an ideal state. Since then, it’s been an ongoing effort. It began out of the gate with the abolitionist movement. It was joined a few decades later by the women’s rights movement in 1848 at the Seneca Falls Convention.

It took time for many of the advancements to be put in place, but through relentless determination by the issues’ warriors, they became inscribed into the American creed.

But sadly, some of those advancements are under assault by anachronistic individuals, who, among other goals, seek to put women “back in their place” and to disenfranchise Blacks and other people of color in defiance of the Fifteenth Amendment that reads, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

As frustrating, maddening, bewildering, and even disgusting the incessant shenanigans are, it remains we the people’s job to get America back on track. To do so, Ms. Noonan encourages everyone to keep their composure, maintain their poise, and not allow the stupidity to rob you of your peace of mind.

“More than ever,” she says, “the adults have to rise to fore and set the template for what is admirable. If we don’t, those who follow us will be less admirable even than us.”

We have an advantage over the Romans: the Constitution. But unless we adhere to its framework and guidelines, it’s only ink on parchment.

In short order, the celebrations for the semiquincentennial will begin. It’s paramount that we the people party hearty in fine fashion.

Own your patriotism. Fly Old Glory proudly and belt out the Star-Spangled Banner. In so doing, you’ll make it loud and clear not only you’re a proud American but also you remember those who put their lives on the line to protect us against enemies within and without, as well as those who fought to advance the causes of social justice, personal freedom, and economic security.

And most important, never lose sight that freedom of expression, religion, assembly, petition, and press are RIGHTS, not “privileges.” Ultimately, that’s what July 4^th is all about.