Look folks, this talk of “Make America Great Again” is just absurd. Yes, we are the greatest nation in the world in terms of military and economy, but we have a checkered pass. Ask yourself when exactly when was this last time “America was Great?”
Perhaps it was the within the greatest generation, right after the war to end all wars ended? You know that time when schools were segregated and it took a Supreme Court case in 1954 to legally make segregation illegal. Where were great then?
Or perhaps it the ‘60s when we passed The Civil Rights Act? Was our greatness the racist stigma in the air by citizens? That perhaps it took a death of a president, and the congressional influence of another to truly allowed The Civil Rights Act to pass. It was not by moral virtue that such congressmen passed it, it was politics.
Was our greatness in the Cold War when we were a true superpower in the international body? A time when we went into Central America just out of a belief that the democratic leader of Guatemala was leaning towards communism. Such a leader we took out of power and instated a dictator because we wanted more free markets.
Should I say that the Iraq and Afghanistan was what made us proud and great? I understand the need for action, but even President Obama said our actions in Iraq allowed the creation of ISIS. Honestly, any Middle East foreign policy can show our flaws.
Lastly, were we great upon the creation of the constitution or the Declaration of Independence? Back when one could legally own another person? Where even though in the foundation of our political identity states “all men are created equal,” we create a Constitution that accepts slavery. We were never truly great, at least by my definition.
Our greatness as a nation should never lie within our economic reach or our militaristic might. Our greatness derives from our virtue as a people. If we are to be a nation for the people by the people how can we elect a man that wishes to discriminate and oppress the minority.? The framers of the constitution created the government to protect the minority. Our greatness is within our moral integrity. That our actions should be an example to the entire world of how to act, and thus, be.
This is often forgotten, and that is an issue.
Who we are depends on what we do, and what we do depends on who we the people elect. So as election day draws near, ask yourself with reason and virtue what choice should I make? Do not only know the person but know their policies. As Robert Warren Penn once said, “walking out of history, into history and the great responsibilities of time.” I ask, you to look at our history and learn its lessons. I ask, as a nation, to accept our responsibility for our actions. I ask, we the people vote wisely.
