Patriotism in Times of Political Unrest in America

EDITORIAL

By JIM PURCELL

There is no need to tell anyone that politics is dividing the United States right now. Republicans, Conservatives, Independents, Democrats, Progressives and dozens of other, different factions are practically yelling at the top of their lungs for attention,  for action of some kind.

It's a time to build bridges and not blow them up

   The Great Experiment of the United States began in 1776, the creation of some of the brightest minds in history. There was bitter feuding between what amounts to the Jefferson faction and the Hamilton faction. Thomas Jefferson envisioned the broadest application of democracy (for white men only), while it can be said that Hamilton favored a more stratified social and economic system, which shut out the interests of more white men. Roughly speaking, Adams lined up with the Hamilton faction, while men like James Madison followed Jefferson. We are all fortunate that George Washington, weary of long service, stayed on to usher in the fledgling republic for two terms as its president. 

   I do not believe that it was Jefferson, Hamilton, Adams, Madison or any of the other 'Founding Brothers' who were the most important during this time: it was Washington. Amid the passionate outbursts of all camps, he remained the calm eye in the storm. Washington chose the best ideas of both sides to incorporate into the United States. So, America did not become the agrarian collective that Jefferson might find ideal, nor did it become a de facto monarchy, which Hamilton might have felt comfortable with. 

   In 1783, Washington had to put an end to the Newburgh Conspiracy where, in Newburgh, New York, Hamilton and several hundred of his best friends were forwarding the proposition that the United States should be a monarchy, reigned over by Washington. The old general laid down the law to his veterans and that was the end of it. There would be no king.

Not what freedom looks like

   George Washington was not a Whig, a Democratic Republican, or any other 'party loyalist.' He was a loyalist to the United States and its bedrock principles, many of which he helped codify ith the new Congress. Washington was the check and safeguard against fanatacism and he served long enough to ensure that limitations were placed on any one individual, or any one group, to re-write the history of the United States themselves.

   There is a revolution in the United States with every electoral season. On social media, I am starting to hear about groups of people "...going out in to the streets armed..." to prove something or other. The loose talk is about a descent into madness. I do not trust any politician, group or collective of people to alter the future that has been given us by the Founders. And, anyone who does has the wrong idea about what America is. 

   The voting place has been called into question, and it should be: Voting has been suppressed in some places, fabricated in others, edited in still more. Yet, it is the vote that secures a peaceful future for the nation. If a vote is not sacred, then all of us are in very deep trouble. 

   If I were a politician or party who attained power through fraudulent or biased means, power is not a gift. Unwelcome leadership in the national government, or the governments organized under those governments will lead to chaos. One's every decision would be called into play and, not content to be lead in such a way, investigation after investigation would pile one upon the other. 

Definitely not what freedom looks like

   Love the country. Love what it stands for. America isn't about cutting people out, it is about welcoming groups of people into the mosaic that is America. Yes, we need the Rule of Law. We need strong national security. we also need to ensure that every citizen is enfranchised as an American, regardless of their sex, religion, national origin, creed or color. This is the American Way, and the only way for this nation.

   At this point, I think the smartest people in this nation are the ones that are not yelling and screaming, but trying to re-establish some consensus among a great number of people who currently believe they are at etreme odds with their fellow countrymen. The nature of American Government requires the consensus of the greatest number of people, and it is in that way our civilization goes on.