Patriotic Greetings 2019: the Idea of the United States

Patriotic Greetings!

These High Patriot Days marking the annual commemoration of the independence of the United States signal a fitting time to ponder the idea of the United States.  This idea contains many individual components, and in each of them, in their own way, we recognize the United States.  And these patriotic days are based in the story of US independence that is one expression of this idea.

Following the conclusion of war between Britain and France in 1763, tensions grew between Britain and the 13 British North American colonies.  After more than a decade, American and British soldiers clashed at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts, sparking the American Revolution, which gave increased momentum toward the independence of the colonies.

On Friday, June 7, 1776, in a session of the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee offered the following resolution: "Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."

About three weeks later, the Congress took up debate on the resolution on July 1.  On Tuesday, July 2, 1776, the independence resolution passed unanimously, with a "yea" from each voting colony.  Congress then turned its attention to the draft of a document that Thomas Jefferson composed that explained the reasoning for independence.  The Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on Thursday, July 4.  (Note that these days fell on the same day of the week in 1776 as they do in this year 2019, which for me, brings me more in tune with the events of those momentous and historic days in 1776.)

The American Revolutionary War continued until a decisive American victory at Yorktown, Virginia, led to peace negotiations.  The war concluded with Britain's recognition of US independence with the Treaty of Paris 1783 on September 3 of that year.

One significant aspect of the independence story of the United States, and an important component of the idea of the US, is how this country came into existence based on a set of principles, distinguishing it among the other nations of the world when the Congress voted for independence and approved the Declaration of Independence.  And these principles have continued to shape and be shaped throughout our history and in our present civil discourse, continuing to give expression to the idea of the United States, which we hold in our land, and also present to the broader world.  Indeed, those principles have great power.

It's amazing to think of what this country has become in the years since 1776, and how our understanding of what this country is and what it means to be a US citizen has come to encompass so much, just as those founding principles have taken on expanded implications.  Certainly my celebration of Illinois's bicentennial in 2018 was a way to recognize what the United States has become since 1776, as new states, like Illinois, joined the original 13, and expanded the land and people the US includes, offering unique contributions.

Indeed, these patriotic days are a great time to think about what makes this country unique in and of itself, and furthermore, how it presents itself to the world at large.

I often think back to my World Youth Day pilgrimage last January in Panama, a 6-day trip that is the longest amount of time I've spent outside of the United States.  I figure that I had probably spent about 48 hours outside the US when my family was traveling through Ontario to the Niagara Falls area, and during our stay in the Niagara area, we bounced back and forth across the US-Canada border.  In traveling to Panama, I was thousands of miles from the United States.  Yet I could instantly recognize the presence of the United States while there, in the many expression of the USA I encountered.  While out and about for the various WYD festivities, I often encountered fellow pilgrims from the United States, with the US flag as one of the most common symbols identifying them, along with anything else they had on them that would suggest being from the US like a shirt for a group from a particular city or diocese, or even other flags like for states or the distinct red “N” University of Nebraska flag.

As I packed, I felt it appropriate while joining with fellow pilgrims from all over the world to bring tokens expressing who I am:  So I brought my own two small flags, one for the US and another for Illinois.  Flags often serve as a powerful symbol that expresses our national identity, especially in consideration of the flag's design.  I waved my two flags with great cheer as a way to express who I am while joining with pilgrims from all over the world who waved their national flags to express who they are, which is a major custom of WYD.  It was a wondrous scene to see us as US citizens join with people all over the world as many nations united in celebrating our one faith in God.

Here I am walking along Avenida Guillermo E. Quijano on the way to Metro Park, on January 26, 2019, with my two flags in hand.  Photo is courtesy of the Diocese of Gary.

Even my passport served as a strong expression of the presence of the United States, with so many scenes, images, and symbols that demonstrate the experience of the United States throughout history and in our present time.  The stamp I got upon passing through immigration at the Servicio Nacional de Migracion (National Migration Service) checkpoint at Tocumen International Airport was the first stamp ever in my passport.  As I admire that stamp, reflecting on the amazing experience it represents, I see that it was affixed right over an image of the top of the Declaration of Independence, which you can see in the photo below.  It's an amazing juxtaposition to see an important expression of the US present upon entering another country.

While ambling around in Panama, whenever I saw people from the US, I often would start spontaneously cheering, “USA! USA! USA! USA!” and there was such an electric energy as they joined in the chant and we celebrated the idea of the United States.  Even thousands of miles from the United States, I could recognize the presence of the US in my fellow citizens and instantly feel a sense of connection with them.  Even beyond our shared symbols, we share an experience of living in the same country, in all its vastness.  That is the power of the idea of the United States.

Having celebrated the idea of the United States in such ways while in Panama, it stirred something in me upon our arrival at O'Hare International Airport, especially when I saw a digital display sign mounted from the ceiling in the hallway leading to the immigration and customs checkpoint, which read, "Welcome to the United States" and embedded with a US flag image.  The scene makes the words come alive from Neil Diamond's "America" song, as we came "traveling far", "on the planes...coming to America".  It was special to return to my country with a renewed sense of patriotic pride from celebrating it while abroad.

(Similarly, as I was returning from my day trip to Vancouver, BC, Canada back in May 2017, it stirred me deep within to see the US flag upon crossing the border as the bus I rode on drove toward the stop for the immigration and customs checkpoint.  Seeing that flag powerfully spoke to me that I was back in my beloved country.)

Months following my trip to Panama’s national capital, Mom and went I on an extended weekend trip to Washington, D.C., my first visit to the national capital city of the United States, since going to Panama City, the first national capital city of another country I've visited.  It is such an inspiring city, in large part because the places, building, and institutions there give expression to the idea of the United States, while that city has done much to influence how the idea has been manifested throughout the country, and beyond.  And it was special to go there for the first time after traveling to Panama, to engage with what made the idea of the US worth celebrating while abroad.

The National Archives houses thousands of documents telling our history, most prominently the Charters of Freedom that speak to how the United States and its idea began.  The Smithsonian museums house so many artifacts and have exhibits that speak to our experience as Americans, our history, our culture, and our identity, even as it continues to be shaped by what we make of the past and present.  The Capitol, the White House, the Supreme Court, and other government buildings are places where the idea is acted out as the process of the people’s government continues, just like it is in polling places when people cast their ballots for government officials, as has happened a couple of times in the past year.

Being in Washington, D.C., stirs some sensations deep down in my soul, because being there makes me aware of who I am as a citizen of the United States.  It was like when my family went there during Spring Break 20 years ago in 1999.  One day, we visited the National Archives museum building, getting inside within half an hour of closing time, which gave us just enough time to see the Charters of Freedom.  I remember Dad hoisting me on his shoulders so I could gaze upon the documents.  I didn't know well the history of those documents as I do now, but even as an 8-year-old, I knew I was looking at something highly significant.

As I've learned the story of those documents, I've come to embrace the special experience of standing before them when I have visited the National Archives, doing so again and again as a sort of ritual experience during subsequent trips to Washington, D.C.

Mom took this photo of me in front of the National Archives building in Washington, D.C., during our visit to Washington, D.C., in May 2019.

And there's nothing like entering that city and being stirred by the sight of the monuments and other buildings.  What's most amazing is the realization that what's there is a reflection of who I am as a person, as I have a part in what those places represent, even as they have had some part in shaping how I live as a US citizen.

I also had these ideas on my mind when visiting Historic Colonial Williamsburg Virginia 10 years ago in July 2009, which was a true highlight of that summer for me.  Having read so much about the history expressed in that place, I was so delighted to finally have the chance to visit it, and see the history on display there.  Seeing it displayed helped provide context for me to understand that history further and its implications for what it means to be a US citizen today, and what we can make of being US citizens as we continue living out our citizenship, expressing the idea of the USA.

Indeed, places are an important expression of the USA.  So are artifacts and documents--even Thomas Jefferson said the Declaration of Independence is a "masterful expression of the American mind."

And that's what makes these days so powerful an expression of the idea of the USA, and, for me, so worth celebrating in grand style.  I celebrate not only because of these days, but because the history we celebrate is something that I am, and we all are, a part of, and can shape for the benefit of those living in this country, and to present something noble to the world at large.

So let us celebrate on these days, and continue the spirit of these celebrations as we give expression to the idea of the United States.

To the Spirit of God, under Whose Providence the United States was born, and the Spirit of the United States of America,

God Bless the United States of America,
Paul

P.S. This is my annual Patriotic Greetings note for 2019.

Here are links to view the versions of these notes that appear on my blog for 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Like with any of my blog posts, please feel free to share this note with others.

While this note has been in electronic version since 2013, a paper copy is always available.  Please contact me if you would like one, and inform me where I should send it.