Читать книгу Preserving Democracy - Elgin L Hushbeck - Страница 5

From a Liberal

America! What a country!

(With apologies to Yakov Smirnoff).

Countless movies and books contain the theme of the family whose children seem to spend most of their time fighting with each other over just about anything. Occasionally, they band together to accomplish some great project, but basically, their lives seem to be one chaotic brawl after another. Unless, of course, someone else threatens one of the group. Then they all band together, shoulder to shoulder, and fight off the threat. Ten minutes later, everyone is back to infighting.

That in a nutshell is my view of America. It is a country populated by “Americans,” a rough and tumble, often brawling, sometimes cooperating, family of hundreds of millions of individuals.

What is the unspoken force that naturally draws Americans together, whether left or right, religious or secular, natural-born or recent immigrant? It seems to be this strange mix of traditions, attitudes, hopes, and commonly-held views that America is a concept worth fighting for. Each of these attributes is a natural offshoot of a country centered on that wonderful instrument entitled the US Constitution. A historical document that we all agree to adhere to, even today.

Only two things can really define the end of America. The first is the refusal of Americans to stand, shoulder-to-shoulder, against all comers. The second would be the removal or diminishment of the Constitution as the underpinning of our daily lives. Under either situation, Americans would simply be a loose gaggle of geographically grouped people without any purpose.

Before this begins to sound like yet another description of the Founding Fathers as demi-gods who knew everything about everything, I should mention that this is being written by a self-professed, flaming liberal. That’s right. I grew up with a picture of Roosevelt on the mantelpiece and was ecstatic at the outcome of the 2008 elections.

This book is not about politics. It is about America, and serves as a reminder of the responsibility each of us has to cast our votes thoughtfully. If we acknowledge this responsibility and act upon it, we can pass our inheritance, America, to the generations that follow. If we refuse to participate in this democracy, or vote exclusively on emotions rather than thoughtful analysis, we threaten the Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness for our own descendants. Who are we to squander the gifts handed down to us so that later generations cannot share in the wondrous experience of being an American?

I would urge any American, of any political persuasion or demographic group, to read Elgin’s thoughtful journey to the foundations of the American psyche, and ponder the issues he presents to us. He only asks us to think through our several opinions, and measure their consequences: “…in order to form a more perfect union.”

— Bob, Wisconsin