#394 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Monday July 4)
Good morning,
Happy Fourth of July!
The United States flag has been hijacked as a symbol by those who appropriate it for their own political statement. But they miss out on what the symbol stands for. It is not a symbol that we’re always right, or that there is some sort of “native” rights or moral authority that United States citizens possess. And, as evidenced by recent Supreme Court decisions, we are neither infallible nor united in our perspectives. We are a nation-state that stands for certain ideals that transcend political party or ideology. These ideals include basic human dignity, democratic elections, and a a free society that provides opportunity for all. These are aspirational values and I submit that we have been taking steps forward during much of our history as we reach out to achieve these lofty goals. It will be a great challenge in the months and years ahead whether these ideals lose out to autocratic and theocratic challenges.
The American experiment is premised upon a few key principles which, until the nation was established, were rarely practiced. Contrary to a rising view in our universities and among many of our elites, the country is not irredeemable. That said, our political forebears permitted the enslavement of others, with the Founders largely sidestepping the moral issues associated with this vile institution.
Most people who came here, either at our founding or throughout our history, came by choice to find a better life and greater opportunity. When people say “we are all immigrants,” they’re mostly right. But there are two groups who did not come here as immigrants. The Native Americans were here to begin with. And the Blacks enslaved in America were kidnapped and abused. We have not been kind to either.
But the greatness of American is represented by values, not ethnicity, religion of political point of view, some of which include:
Against the tyranny and punitive taxation by government
For democratic institutions
For the freedoms of the individual and the sanctity of all individuals
Against the establishment of a state religion
Equal rights of men (modified over the year to include all men and all women)
The right to peaceable assembly, speech, and worship
Redress for grievances
Majority rule
Protection of the minority against majority tyranny
A system that rejects the passions of the moment moving the government too quickly in one direction (most obviously embedded in the overlapping terms of different lengths of our branches of government and houses of Congress)
Various rights of those suspected or accused of a crime (e.g., to be safe in one’s home, not subject to unreasonable search, entitlement to face one’s accuser, fair trial, jury trial, and the right against self-incrimination)
As much freedom as one has, there are limits (e.g., your rights end at the tip of the other person’s nose; you can’t yell “fire!” in a crowded theatre; you can’t libel someone)
I suggest that today (and every day) we try to think about the great issues of the moment with these concepts in mind.
SOME GEORGE CARLIN OBSERVATIONS
And just because there always is time for humor, particularly on a holiday…
Arguably the greatest comedian of his time (and ours), George Carlin, had a way of playing with the English language, pointing out curiosities and ironies such as these:
Is it good if a vacuum really sucks?
Why is the third hand on a watch called the second hand?
Why do we say something is out of whack? What is a whack?
Why do “slow down” and “slow up” mean the same thing?
DEMOCRACY IS AT RISK
Let us never forget in the next 2 ½ years leading to the 2024 election that there is mischief afoot. Secretaries of State, state legislatures and Governors are being elected who have signed out to a ridiculous reading of the Constitution and the methodology of certifying elections. They have signed onto the lie that Donald Trump was denied a second term by a vast conspiracy (that miraculously did not include any of the states Mr. Trump won), the details of which conspiracy miraculously have yet to emerge. They have a view of the sanctity of elections and the certification of elections that differ from what the founders envisioned, what the courts confirmed after the last election (in over 50 cases), or what his Vice President determined when he was targeting by Mr. Trump and the rioters Mr. Trump assembled and emboldened. When partisan elected legislators overturn elections not shown to have any demonstrated impropriety, all hell will break loose. We are in for a bumpy ride. We will learn who the patriots are in the coming months.
DON’T LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE WRITING MUSINGS
I’m mortified that I was listening to music while writing Saturday’s Musing and mislabeled Marvin Gaye performing the National Anthem…
Have a great Fourth and stay safe!
Glenn
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