Certain Self-Evident Truths

During college there seemed to be a trend in many of my classes.  We spent an enormous amount of time discussing all the failings of the American Government around the world and in our own country.  By the end of my time in college, I wondered if America had ever done anything truly good, or if we had anything worth saving as a nation.  A few years ago, even our President, Barack Obama, prior to being elected went to Europe and apologized for all the terrible things The United States has done in the world.

I’m an advocate of healthy self-examination, of asking forgiveness and making restitution when it is right and appropriate to do so.  As a mom, I ask my kids to forgive me constantly.  And as a citizen of the United States, for many years I felt we owed the world an apology for existing, for causing such harm to so many nations, for being so positive and “superficial” as it was put before me on a number of occasions, for starting wars that weren’t wanted or appreciated by the rest of the world.  I lived with an ever-present shame over being an American, in particular when I traveled to other countries.

This past year, after living my first year as an expatriate in Chile, my gratitude and pride as an American has increased. I’ve grown to appreciate that The United States has a few unique qualities worth mentioning.

I am thankful for the American Public School System.  I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s and come from a blue-collar family, and at times depended on State aid to provide me with a hot lunch.  Never once was I ever made to feel inferior or devalued because of my socio-economic status.  On the contrary, I was taught by every single teacher I had that I mattered, that I could do something with my life, that I could go to college, and even if I didn’t go to college, I was valuable.  The other day at a dinner for education in Chile someone suggested I was the exception, that perhaps teachers thought I had potential and that’s why they invested in me, even though I was “poor.”  I shook my head and explained that in America we believe everyone has potential.  Their response was astounding as they assured me, in shameless declaration how that “mentality of equality” would never work in Chile.  I disagree.  I disagree because in the core of my being, I believe there are certain truths to be self-evident …

I am thankful for the undaunted innovative spirit that permeates every corner of my homeland. As a child, it was burned into me, over and over that learning was a good thing, that thinking outside the box was how you get things done, that it is great to work as a team, but also to be an authentic individual.  I was taught that just because something hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean it can’t be done, and with discipline and creativity we can and will accomplish great things.

I am thankful we’ve never had a dictator, we’ve never had a black market where the good literature is banished to.  I’m thankful my parents, my teachers, my pastors, my leaders listened to me and valued my opinions from the time I was a young child.  No one ever told me to be quiet because I might be offensive, or because we might have our property taken, or because our neighbors might turn us into the authorities.  Not one person my whole entire life ever tried to shut me up because they were afraid.  But instead – my voice, my opinion, the right to speak my mind was encouraged, even when my defenders radically disagreed with my positions.  When I spoke out about women’s rights in my 4^th grade class and brought my Bible to school to defend my stand, my teacher gave me a podium and said to bring it on.  In the 6^th grade when I disagreed with an assignment because it went against my religious beliefs, I wrote out the first three of the Ten Commandments and turned them into my teacher.  She applauded my right to freedom of religion – and spoke of my courage to the entire staff at school.  This encouragement, this downright radical way of thinking, is unheard of in many countries around the world.  The idea that a twelve-year-old girl could defend her right to religion and refuse to do an assignment could lead to the incarceration of her parents in some places.

I am overwhelmingly thankful for the generosity and wide open hearts of the American people.  This is seen and felt on so many levels.  We open wide our hearts and our borders letting thousands of people in.  Hell, we even let people in to our nation who might hate us, and despise the very freedom and principles that grant them asylum.  Kids come from all over the world are given a special teacher to help them learn English.  Beautiful.  Absolutely beautiful.  The American people are generous – generous of heart and soul.  We believe in grace and kindness, giving people the benefit of the doubt, innocent until proven guilty.  This is such a gift.

I am proud that William Bradford is my thirteenth great-grandfather.  In college, I learned some things about Bradford that were taken out of context, false to be exact.  I wonder how often this is done on school campuses today.  I’ve done the research.  The pilgrims were an incredible people, who respected the Native Americans.  They maintained peace with them for fifty six years and sought to establish themselves in a hard wilderness in order to live quiet and respectable lives before God.  I’m honored to stand on their shoulders.

I am thankful for the American Public Library System.

I am thankful for the Homestead Act that granted millions of people free land, a new hope, a new future.  This Homestead Act is perhaps one of the most brilliant acts of generosity any government has ever come up with.  It’s worth some research.  It shouldn’t be overlooked and taken for granted that anyone – woman, man, immigrant with the intention of become a citizen could apply for and receive free land for almost a hundred years of our history.  This was done for a few reasons, one of them, because we believed that equality and equal opportunity needed to be enforced and facilitated.

I am thankful that where there is inequality and institutionalized injustice we fight like dogs to see it changed.  We march, we picket, we write letters, we stand in Washington D.C. and say this isn’t going to work for us, and good wins a whole lot of the time, without violent riots and horrific atrocities.

I realize we are guilty of wrong. Of course, we are not perfect.  Who’s claiming perfection?  Perfect and great are two very different things.  Here’s what I think makes us a great nation… We hold these truth to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness ….

I certainly hope you don’t walk away from this blog and think I now worship at the feet of Red, White, and Blue.  I don’t.  I know where my first loyalties lie.  However, I have much to be proud of, and much to be thankful for.  The America of 2013 is not the same place as the America of 1863 or 1935, or even 1990.  I do understand this.  I know we’ve made grave mistakes and done quite a few things based on fear and because we had power.  Lots is being said about all that, lots is written about our badness … but I hold to this – self-examination is important, but self-contempt only breeds more contempt.  A healthy pride in where we come from and what we stand for promotes a solid self-identity.  And eventually starves out the fear of other.

I am so thankful that in 1620 there were some people who dreamed of coming to a New World in order to do something unheard of.  The first winter about half of them died.  The survivors did not turn back, believing the value of what they were doing outweighed the outrageous cost and sacrifice.  I am so thankful.  I am also indebted to the men and women who made it possible for us to declare our independence – on July 4^th 1776.

Happy Fourth of July, America.  May we hold to those truths set before us so long ago.

Much Love,

Tina