What's the most American thing you can do this Independence Day?
Written by The Cyber Patriot, a guest contributor for The Blonde Patriot.
As we approach the 244th birthday of the experiment in democracy known as the United States of America, it's a good time to look back, reflect and consider the lessons our Founding Fathers imparted upon us. One of the privileges of living in a free society is the ability to learn from our history and work to improve our own lives as well as the lives of our friends, families and countrymen. This pursuit of happiness is guaranteed to us in writing, unlike the other 194 countries on Earth.
The story of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams has always been a duality of belief; these two giants tangled in the early days of the Republic on some of the most fundamental issues that our nation would face. While Adams believed in a strong central government policy with power that emanated from the Federal government, Jefferson was passionate about the rights of individual states to govern their own affairs and chart their own course in almost all cases. Jefferson could also be classified as an isolationist, with an inaugural address that could not have been clearer to those in attendance; "Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations-entangling alliances with none."
With such violent disagreement between two men who once served together as President/Vice President, one may question how they could have aligned on a ticket together. Jefferson was horrified by Adams' position on the Alien & Sedition Acts of 1798 and retreated to his estate to begin plotting a Republican takeover of the presidency in 1800. They engaged in a drawn-out and bitter campaign against each other with slanderous attacks on the other man's character in print.
The "Jefferson Lives" story is one that is brought to life in an episode of The West Wing (Season 5, Episode 3) with a bookish Senator recounting the story of the two men's final days to an antsy and agitated President Bartlett, who is ultimately forced to accept a nominee for Vice President that the opposition-controlled Congress will approve. I always enjoyed The West Wing; while the writers clearly spun a liberal and Democrat-centric view of the world in their stories, the dialogue was snappy and the story lines were gripping. As a kid, I could identify the bias early on and write it off; I didn't need preachy positions from Hollywood on topics like censorship, gun control, assisted suicide, foreign policy or other domains spoon-fed to me. I took the content as entertainment at face-value, considered the viewpoint and formed my own opinions based on data.
What do these topics have to do with one another? Today, we seem to live in a different America from just a few years ago when The West Wing graced the airwaves and when discourse between two intelligent people could end with an "agree to disagree" position or "I hadn't thought of that, I'll need to give it consideration". The fracturing of traditional political party lines and the amplification of noise in our daily interactions with one another has turned into a perpetual shouting match. With louder and louder voices attempting to drown the other out, the insidiousness of tyranny begins to creep in. While Jefferson and Adams disagreed with one another (often vociferously), they still heard each other out and explored the other's position both intellectually and spiritually.
While Jefferson and Adams disagreed with one another (often vociferously), they still heard each other out and explored the other's position both intellectually and spiritually.
With propaganda playing a larger role in the world of social media and a 24-hour cable news culture that pipes a viewpoint that we want to believe into our homes for consumption and validation of our own viewpoints in real-time, disinformation propagated through various outlets more focused on advertising revenue than facts and "outrage culture", the war is on to attempt to influence the largest number of audience members possible. When someone doesn't agree with you, the playbook today is to shame them, shout them down, drown them out, demand that they be boycotted and attempt to pressure others to do the same. Basic rights guaranteed to Americans such as freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly are in jeopardy.
While there is much to celebrate with our Independence Day, there is much at risk and much to fight for. Destructive mobs are tearing down statues and monuments, attempting to erase aspects of our cultural history that they don't agree with. Without an understanding of our history, we are doomed to repeat it. Without the ability to listen to one another, engage in intellectual discourse and consider an alternate view or opinion, we are subject to the tyranny and fascism of group think. We no longer live in a political landscape with Democrats and Republicans as members of opposing parties that may hold different beliefs, but share a unified respect for the governmental process, procedure and a remembrance of shared history to cross the aisle and strike a compromise. We live in a world of polarized opinions and an extremely vocal set of right and left wing factions that decry compromise, partnership or statesmanship.
Without the ability to listen to one another, engage in intellectual discourse and consider an alternate view or opinion, we are subject to the tyranny and fascism of group think.
Jefferson and Adams eventually parted ways; Jefferson won the election and became the 3rd President of the United States. As they both entered their golden years, the two patriots renewed their friendship via correspondence and recounted how, in the final analysis, they were both laborers in the same cause. They both fought for their beliefs, but celebrated the freedom of the other to hold opposing views. As the twilight expired on these architects of our United States, Adams' final words were "Thomas Jefferson still survives" (often paraphrased as 'Jefferson Lives'). The second President of the United States was incorrect - Jefferson had expired 5 hours earlier. The date was July 4th, 1826. These two men were statesmen of the finest caliber; we may never see their like again and perhaps it's too much to expect that we hold our current politicians to the same standard - or is it?
This 4th of July, I encourage you to take a page from the book of one of these three men - President Adams, President Jefferson and President Bartlett. While two are historical and one is fictional, the wisdom they have to impart is purely American. Engage in an intellectual dialogue with someone who you don't agree with. Hear them out. Consider their point of view. Seek to dis-confirm your own beliefs. At the end of the discussion, thank them for their time and perspective, even if (especially if) you shake hands and agree to disagree. Along with fireworks, barbecues and cherry pie, there's nothing more American than that.
Comments