When America celebrated her 200th birthday, I was a little boy living in Boston. I remember the tall ships dominating the Boston Harbor – led by the recently restored USS Constitution, more affectionately referred to as Old Ironsides. Flags waved everywhere, school children flocked to the Freedom Trail, Bunker Hill and other famous Bostonian revolutionary sites. Things seemed simpler and more comfortable – even the temperature was in the cool 70s.
As our 250th birthday approaches, things feel a little more complicated, uncomfortable and of course, hotter. Some see jingoistic displays of American patriotism through a very specific political filter while others choose this as an opportunity to look at America through the lens of how she has not lived up to her founding principles. We see our history in black or white without nuance. There are States of America but not as United as we would like.
“United” comes from the Latin term meaning “joined together.” From the very beginning this joining together included people from different backgrounds and beliefs. This holds true today. We can be united and have different beliefs. Not just between each other but within ourselves.
I am proud to be an American AND not always proud of what others do in her name.
I am grateful for the opportunities America has given me AND wish it could afford those same opportunities to more people.
I support our soldiers and veterans AND do not support every conflict our country chooses to engage in.
I respect the office of the Presidency AND don’t approve of how some presidents have disrespected that office.
I am inspired by many events of our nation’s history AND ashamed by others.
I love my country AND believe we can do better.
It’s worth noting that there has always been division in America. Even during our bi-centennial, that little boy waving a flag in Boston? It was during the Boston busing crisis that viciously divided neighbors and families among racial and class lines.
To be united as a country does not require us to be united in all things, just the most important ones. It also helps if we acknowledge our contradictions between us and even within ourselves.
As Walt Whitman wrote in Song of Myself:
“Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)”
As we celebrate our nation’s birthday, perhaps one of the most valuable presents we could give ourselves AND each other is to recognize and understand these contradictions; realizing that inherent in the idea of United – is in fact our differences.
Recommendation of the Week: Take this brief seven question quiz – courtesy of Seth Godin’s blog – that shows how different/unique your own set of beliefs might be from other Americans. It’s interesting that less than 2% of Americans share my exact beliefs in this quiz AND yet I feel so connected to my fellow Americans.
Consider sharing this with someone who you’d like to feel more united with.