Patriotic Greetings!
It's time to party like it's 1776 all over again, as we recall the events pertaining to
Independence Day.
Following
the conclusion of conflict between Britain and France in 1763, tensions
increased between Britain and the 13 British North American colonies as the
government steadily increased control over colonial affairs. As the
colonists resisted, the British government reacted more harshly, until the
Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, started war and then the momentum
increased for colonial independence.
On
June 7, 1776, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee presented the following
resolution before the Continental Congress: "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."
After
some initial discussion, the Congress decided to schedule a vote on the
resolution for July 1 as the colonies used the coming weeks to consider their
stance on the resolution. Meanwhile, Congress appointed a committee to
draft a declaration explaining the move for independence should it be
needed. Virginia delegate Thomas Jefferson was given the task of
composing the document.
On
July 1, Congress discussed the resolution. The following day, Tuesday,
July 2, 1776, Congress adopted the independence resolution by a unanimous
vote. After discussing the draft of the declaration, they adopted the
Declaration of Independence on July 4.
Several years of conflict followed, with a decisive American victory at Yorktown in October 1781, followed by the official end with the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783.
A new constitutional government soon was established. One of its provisions was for a decennial census, the first of which was in 1790. And this
year of 2020 is time for another Census. In the midst of
the year in which the US government is collecting information about those who
live here, this occasion of Independence Day is a great time to consider who we
are as the people of the United States.
I
make it a custom to watch one of my favorite movies, 1776, around
this time of year, to view its representation of the story of the independence
movement in the Continental Congress. After Richard Henry Lee presents
his resolution, the Congress discusses it. Following John Dickinson's
arguments that it's better to stay with Britain, Benjamin Franklin responds,
"We've spawned a new race here--rougher, simpler, more violent, more
enterprising, and less refined. We're a new nationality, Mr. Dickinson--we
require a new nation."
Certainly,
over the course of decades being far from the Mother Country of Britain, the 13
colonies developed a distinct sense of character, and the colonists'
exasperation is understandable when Britain moved to exercise increased control
over the colonies after 1763.
There
was furthermore a sense that the 13 colonies had identities that were almost
like different countries. Yet even as they came together to bind themselves
under a stronger central government, they still retained a distinct identity,
and it's interesting to see how that plays out among the 50 states today.
When
we consider in our present-day sense of identity, there's so much to
incorporate for who the people of the United States are, given the vast
geographic and cultural diversity contained in our country.
We
are a varied people who shiver through dark, extremely cold winters in
Utqiagvik, Alaska, (Barrow) and sweat through intensely hot summers in the dry
deserts of Arizona and humid Miami. We are clustered in big cities and live out in wide open plains and nestled among mighty mountains.
It's
interesting to think about how aspects of popular US culture resulted from the
mingling of different cultures. Music is one prominent example, with
styles like jazz and bluegrass.
Traveling
through major cities in the United States, a person can encounter a variety of
businesses pertaining to different ethnic groups, which tend to cluster in
neighbors that create a rich tapestry just within each individual city that
reflects the patchwork quilt of the whole country itself. All this
variety is contained within one country.
Yet
we are united by defining characteristics that arose from those pivotal days in
1776. The United States came into existence because a group of people
committed themselves to a set of principles, which is unique in the history of
countries in the world. Those principles are a significant part
of our character, and our history is defined by a constant striving to more
perfectly realize them.
The
Continental Congress started the ball rolling in response to Britain's acts to
limit the colonists. But then, people starting realizing that there was
much more work to be done so that all people could live freely. We owe so
much to those who have served in the United States Armed Forces for over two
centuries to uphold our standards here in the homeland and throughout the
world, especially as we mark the 75th anniversary of the conclusion of World
War II in 2020.
But
civilian citizens, too, have advocated for a fuller realization of our founding
principles. We've been through many struggles, especially in securing the
blessings of liberty for all people. When certain individuals get in
positions of power and misuse it, there are plenty of people who don't just
stand idle: They courageously take action, speak out, and work to effect
meaningful change. Through it all, we have demonstrated ourselves to be a
hardy people, resilient in the face of great challenges.
For
decades after independence, abolitionists worked for the freedom of all those
enslaved, up to when slavery was finally abolished owing to the Sectional War
of the 1860's. The struggle continued for the freed African-Americans to
experience fully the blessings of liberty into the Civil Rights Movement and even
today as this nation grapples with how to change our systems to prevent more
tragic deaths like those of George Floyd.
Recently,
I read Nikki Haley's memoir, With All Due Respect, in which she
describes her role, as South Carolina's governor, in the aftermath of the
tragic shooting in Charleston in June 2015. In the angst of that
situation, she rose to the occasion to bring people together, and spearheaded
the successful effort to remove the Confederate flag from the grounds of the
South Carolina state capitol. She demonstrated the same kind of resilience her
family developed as they struggled to fit in society after her parents moved
from India to South Carolina to embrace what the USA had to offer. It was
also incredible to see the powerful sense of grace that overflowed as the
victims' families expressed forgiveness to the shooter, Dylann Roof, and how,
instead of race riots erupting, people came together in solidarity.
That's
an important principle as we consider that as the people of the United States,
we have come together to embrace a common homeland although we have vastly
different origins. The story of the people of the United States began
well before 1776, as various indigenous people groups established themselves
throughout the Americas, and have maintained a strong sense of attachment to the
land ever since. They were joined by settlers from various European countries, many
of whom came to embrace the resources of the land, first the colonists who settled
on the Eastern seaboard, and then the pioneers who advanced westward beyond the
Appalachians, like described in David McCullough's book The Pioneers,
and then beyond the Mississippi River, leaving the comforts of home to forge a new life in unfamiliar circumstances. The story of the USA is defined
by the continuous immigration throughout two centuries of people from all over
the world.
I
realize my former co-worker Nincy, originally from India, is celebrating
Independence Day this year for the first time since being naturalized as a US
citizen last October. When we worked together, I was aware that she was
in the naturalization process, and so it was pretty exciting to receive the
news back in October and see the photo she sent me posing with her
naturalization certificate. I immediately replied with words of
congratulations and patriotic, celebratory images.
As
a natural-born citizen, I have great admiration for people who strive through
the steps of the long process of naturalization that is a hallmark of the people of the
United States. I've read accounts of people attending naturalization
ceremonies, and they are marked by great emotion and much-deserved
celebration. It's pretty profound to consider how all these immigrants
and naturalized citizens bring something to this country to enrich the
tapestry, even as this country leaves a profound mark on them.
Indeed,
all of us have the chance to make an impact on this country, as we come from
varied backgrounds to grow in a common sense of character that has been present
all throughout our history.
I
think back to last summer when I attended a wreath-laying ceremony for
President Ford on his birthday at his Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, and
how often in their remarks, the various speakers talked about his sense of
character in a difficult time in government when he became president. I
also learned a lot about Herbert Hoover's sense of character, which was instilled in him starting in his childhood in West Branch, IA. He went on from living in a two-room cottage to earning great wealth from a lucractive mining career, and then used his resources to
help millions of starving people throughout the world. It was amazing to stand in the very house on Downey
Avenue where he was born on his birthday and consider how he went on to make an
impact.
And
we can see the role of character going all the way back to the founders'
generation. In the midst of the challenging and abnormal circumstances of
the current pandemic, I recalled an episode of Liberty's Kids, one
of my favorite TV shows, which aired when I was in 6th grade. At the end
of the episode "Bostonians",
we hear Abigail Adams, voiced by Annette Bening, quote from a letter that she
wrote to her 12 1/2-year-old son John Quincy. (By the way, you can find
all episodes of that show on YouTube for free.)
The letter has
some heady content, and it's clear Abigail had high standards for John
Quincy. In it, she wrote: "Great necessities call out great virtues.
When a mind is raised, and animated by scenes that engage the heart, then those
qualities, which would otherwise lay dormant, wake into Life, and form the
character of the hero and the Statesmen." I shared that excerpt with
my 8th grade Religious Education students at a prayer gathering we held for
them to affirm and celebrate them at the conclusion of their time in the RE
program.
No
matter our age, those profound words speak to all of us. In whatever
challenges we have faced over the years, whether it be pandemic, war, or the
struggle for the greater realization of the vision of freedom laid out by the
Founders, we have had the opportunity to grow in those virtues that build strong
character, which enables us to make our country, and our world, a better place.
In
all our variety of origins, places of residence, and cultural aspects, character
binds us in a common identity as people of the United States, which drives us
to strive in doing good for one another in our country and throughout the
world. In times of crisis, goodness arises as people take action
to help each other, drawing upon our strength of character to overcome trouble.
So upon the occasion of Independence Day, let's celebrate who we are as a people, and continue striving each day to live the character that defines us.
God Bless the United States of America,
Paul
Above, Mom photographed me in the National Portrait Gallery/Smithsonian Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C., during our visit there on May 19, 2019, during our trip to the city. I'm standing by the wall where the original engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence was on display when this building was the US Patent Office. That document became an integral part of our character as people of the USA.
Below is a decorative gazebo near the south end of the Galena Avenue Bridge over the Rock River in Dixon, IL, along the historic transcontinental Lincoln Highway corridor.
The people of the USA have striven greatly over the years, covering great geographical and cultural expanses, while remaining bound by a common character.
P.S.
This is my annual Patriotic Greetings note that I first wrote in 2008, and
which has appeared annually on my blog since 2013.
Here
are links to view the versions of these notes that appear on my blog for 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
If you'd like a print copy, please feel free to contact me. A contact form is available on the sidebar of this blog page.
