The Re-United States of America

E Pluribus Unum.  The Latin phrase, “Out of many, one.” It’s on America’s coins and was the de facto motto of our nation until 1956 when the U.S. Congress adopted “In God We Trust” (another great notion to follow) as our nation’s official motto. We could learn a lot from E Pluribus Unum.

The Fourth of July weekend is always a time for me to reflect on our nation’s history (I’m increasingly becoming a amateur history aficionado).  The question I keep reflecting on again and again this year, “How can our noble American history (and even some of the ignoble moments), our American values, and principles of liberty inform our present and future?” Or more simply re-stated, “What can the wisdom and experience of our nation’s greatest founding thinkers and leaders teach us about our present condition and our future?” 

Honestly, the answer to that question could fill multiple volumes of several books, but for the purpose of this blog, I’ll just focus on one thing – Unity.

E Pluribus Unum reminds us that being American should unite us rather than divide us.  We have so many differences.  During the last few weeks, we’ve all seen how wide that divide can be.  As a pluralistic society, we are constantly navigating how to respect difference and diversity without losing our commonality.  People of different faiths or no faith at all; people of different races and ethnicities; people with different political viewpoints; and people of different ages, attractions, and affluence all live in America.  Despite a small moment of national unity after 9/11, America has emphasized difference for most of the 21^st century thus far. 

 

In fact, America has always been a conglomeration of disparate interests.  The very Constitution reflects the delicate balance of differences between the differing states.  From the days when Jefferson and Hamilton locked horns giving rise to the political party system, to the Whiskey Rebellion, to the Civil War and to Watergate, America has always had its deep, discouraging divisions.  Yet there have been glorious moments of unity – the Revolutionary War era, the Constitutional Convention (despite deep divisions, the Founding Fathers found a path to unity – that was a miracle!), both World Wars of the 20^th century, landing a man on the moon, and the aftermath of September 11, 2001.  In each of these circumstances, differences were set aside for the common good.  Moreover, there was a fundamental belief and commitment to American Exceptionalism, the goodness of America, and the existence of common ground that can be discovered through negotiation and diplomacy. In every previous generation, America found a way to find unity amidst diversity.  Are we losing the capacity to “be one nation under God” in this generation?  If so, why?  What do we gain by emphasizing difference over similarity?

Over the last academic year, I’ve been learning about a philosophy called axiology – the science of values.  A very small segment of counselors engage in what is called axiological counseling and I’m fascinated with this.  Axiology seeks to determine what are the values that seem to transcend cultural variation and other differences.  What axiology has taught me is that humans have more in common in what they value than they do differences.  The values that rise above difference tend to be pretty standard (we shouldn’t kill, shouldn't steal, but we should love our family, neighbors, and friends, etc. under most conditions – for a summary of axiology/value theory a brief synopsis is given at http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/value-theory/). 

This line of thinking led me to consider, what should Americans hold in common regardless of our different cultures and backgrounds?  Let me suggest three V’s that are broad categories to consider: Virtues, Values, and Valor.

Virtues

As an undergraduate student at USC studying Public Policy and Management, I took a course about ethics in government.  The professor, Terry Cooper, was an expert in the field.  In one of our books for the course, I remember reading a description of the Mayflower Compact.  It described the Mayflower Compact as one of the first American examples of “self-government by a virtuous people.”  That concept of personal virtue as a necessary precursor to public, ethical self-government resonated with me.  Over the years, I have accumulated a treasure trove of quotes by the Founding Fathers and their opinions about private and public virtue as necessary to our civic engagement.  It was clear that most of the Founding Fathers found morality (both personal and public) stemmed from religion and, while there was great variance between the Founding Fathers in how virtuously they lived their personal lives, they sensed that despite their personal weaknesses religion was the best modality for changing their less-than-angelic-natures.  John Adams, in particular, was quite ardent in striving for religious, personal morality and public virtue.  He stated:

“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”¹ 

In a letter to John Adams, Thomas Jefferson wrote:

“No government can continue good but under the control of the people; and … their minds are to be informed by education what is right and what wrong; to be encouraged in habits of virtue and to be deterred from those of vice … These are the inculcations necessary to render the people a sure basis for the structure and order of government.”²

Finally George Washington, himself, spoke highly of the role of virtue in a self-governed society:

“Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government,”³ and “Human rights can only be assured among a virtuous people.”⁴

While people of various faiths may interpret certain doctrines and practices differently, the Ten Commandments have well served as a basis of ethical behavior in Judeo-Christian societies such as ours for centuries.  Jefferson indicates that these virtues should be taught “by education” as to what is “right and what is wrong.”  Naturally education starts in the home, but churches, synagogues, and schools have an important role to play in the education of basic right and wrong.  Adherence to the virtues of the Ten Commandments in the personal lives of Americans would do wonders for our society. 

Values

In addition to the personal and religious virtues necessary for self-governance in America, there are “American Values” that must be re-enthroned if we are to become united as Americans again.  The principal principle-based inscriptions within the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution (including the Bill of Rights), Ben Franklin's "13 Virtues," and Thomas Paine's Common Sense must become inscribed on the hearts of all Americans.  Principles of liberty, justice, equal opportunity, honest work, self-reliance, independence, determination, tenacity, thrift, compassion, beneficence, honor, and duty must be re-enthroned in the homes, classrooms, and houses of worship from the youngest of ages so that as the rising generation matures, they may successfully experiment with the balancing points of these values, so that they will know how to articulately speak and actively live these values and virtues with acumen beyond any previous American generation. 

For example, every American youth (and every adult) should read and comprehend Alexis De Tocqueville’s Democracy in America (if not both volumes at least the abridged version).  There is so much information in De Tocqueville’s work alone that informs Americans about our basic values that it is indispensible to the good working order of the “popular sovereignty” basis of our nation.  One of his central tenets in Democracy in America is that freedom and equality are juxtaposed values in tension with one another, like two sides of a scale.  As freedom rises, equality diminishes.  As equality rises, freedom diminishes.  While both are American values and both must exist for an effective society, the real question is “What is the proper balance of freedom and equality in society?”  De Tocqueville laments that Americans are too enamored with equality and undervalue the real prize of American constitutional republicanism – liberty.  But what do you think?  Have you ever considered this juxtaposed balance of values?  Many policy proposals are best understood as an attempt to emphasize either freedom or equality and tip the scale toward one or the other.  If Americans understood this basic principle, they would be more informed voters and we’d have a better society. 

We must also understand the difference between equal opportunity vs. equal outcome.  Do we want a society (like socialism and communism aspires to) that emphasizes equal outcomes, or do we simply need to do a better job at providing equal opportunities (like improving educational opportunities for all Americans in all school systems)? 

These questions about how to balance the nexus of competing American values (like freedom vs. equality; opportunity vs. outcome) have been written about extensively.  In addition to De Tocqueville, one must read Friedrich von Hayek’s The Road to Serfdom (or at least watch the five minute YouTube video/cartoon filmstrip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkz9AQhQFNY) and consider the Milton Friedman/Friedrich von Hayek discussions about economics before one can claim to be an informed voter.  I’d also recommend Edwin Feulner and Brian Tracy’s (2012) The American Spirit: Celebrating the Virtues and Values that Make Us Great.   

Valor

No matter what you may think of war, if it weren’t for the American military we wouldn’t be able to even have this discussion.  Their unparalleled record of protecting our freedoms over more than two centuries invokes our deepest gratitude.  At this time of national celebration (the 4^th of July) we honor those who fought to defend our personal liberties and national interests.  Moreover, we should pause and offer a prayer of thanks to God for the men and women who have given their “last full measure of devotion”⁵ on our behalf. 

The way we can best honor the valor of those who died for us is to live as honorably as we can with the same valor, courage, compassion, and determination to follow Pres. Lincoln’s admonition:

“…that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”⁶

Summary

After decades of division, America’s future resides in a “Re-United States of America” – a country that heals the public divides, lays down our theoretical/political/sociological divisive swords, and works together with a collaborative spirit for the common good of all.  From our many viewpoints and walks of life, we need to learn to transcend cultural, ethnic, socio-economic, and “other-isms” and seek to become united again.  We must always respect diverse viewpoints, faiths, cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds.  We need not lose our unique, personal distinctiveness or heritage in the quest for American unity.  But it is liberty, freedom, and rights that primarily protect that diverse distinctiveness.  We must be more diligent and vigilant is preserving the liberties wherewith God hath made us free.  Pres. Ronald Reagan, 40^th President of the United States, warned us all:

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

As you celebrate the 239^th birthday of our great nation, in addition to the food, fireworks, and fun, consider how to add freedom, faith, and family along with virtue, values, and valor to your life as an American.  May God bless us to be the “Re-“United States of America, once again.  God bless you and God bless America!

References:

1. John Adams, October 11, 1798, letter to the officers of the First Brigade of the Third Division of the Militia of Massachusetts. Charles Francis Adams, ed., The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States, (Little, Brown, and Co., Boston, 1854), 9:229.

2. Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 1819. ME 15:234.

3. Victor Hugo Paltsits, Washington’s Farewell Address (The New York Public Library, 1935), p. 124.

4. Washington to Marquis De Lafayette, February 7, 1788, John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington, (U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington D. C., 1939), 29:410.

5. Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, Nov. 19, 1863, http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm  Retrieved July 4, 2015.

6. Ibid.

7.  http://whowasronaldreagan.com/104/2013/08/31/freedom-is-never-more-than-one-generation-away-from-extinction-we-didnt-pass-it-to-our-children-in-the-bloodstream-it-must-be-fought-for-protected-and-handed-down-for-them-to-do-the-same-or-one-2/ , Retrieved July 4, 2015.