Steadfast

  Ever wonder how the United States became the world power that we are? How did we go from colonies to a nation? Oh, we all know the story, the way it was taught in school. Like a Rocky movie we fought against impossible odds and came out on top. It was indeed our Manifest Destiny. An 18th century ideology. That is what is being taught today with the implication being, it is a bad thing. It was Manifest Destiny that created this nation, like it or not. It is called American expansionism. Yes, we did expand from sea to shining sea. The most important aspect in all of that was the creating of "one nation" one people. Unlike Europe where all the different cultures and identities had to co-exist living next door to one another, in America we had only Americans. Try to imagine if each state was its' own sovereign nation, if there had been no union. 

  I find it interesting that today we hear about the importance, the necessity for Unions. Everyone attempting to form a union, even those that make cups of coffee for a living, what a union. A union will protect and serve your best interests! Unions ensure stability and financial success. They are advocates for workers rights! Sounds just like what the union that created America had in mind to me. Strangely however that concept is being maligned today. When we proclaim we belong to the American union that is a very bad thing. What is the purpose of the American union? To do all those things unions do for every citizen of the country. Just as being in the machinist unions will afford you certain rights and privileges so too should being an American, being in the American union. 

 What is the essence of a union? It the imposition of will upon others. Unions force others to comply with their demands, or suffer the consequences of not doing so. That is exactly what manifest destiny was all about and it was indeed, inevitable. The indigenous peoples were defeated and their land seized. That is also how European nations were formed over the centuries of wars, conflicts, treaties and just plain being conquered. The Roman empire was the majority of what we call western Europe today. They felt like they had a manifest destiny as well. The Roman union. It lasted between 500 to 1000 years depending upon who you ask. When conquered the people were usually offered some form of citizenship, sometimes even allowed to vote. It wasn't automatic, you couldn't just march into Rome and demand citizenship. You had to join the union. 

  Lincoln is famously quoted as saying a nation divided against itself can not stand. It's from the bible, that knowledge is that old at the very least. You can't have a union that is divided either. No, a union must focus only upon its' members. What is sometimes called, exceptionalism. That's a bad word these days when we are supposed to be all inclusive, diverse and non judgmental. Still it is that exceptionalism that formed America and made America one of the most powerful unions on earth! Yes, you have to be exclusive in order to be exceptional. One nation, one union, focused on one goal. The Republic was formed to represent that union, the citizens of the nation. Not for individual gain, not for individual rights, rather for the common good. The idea is to protect the individual, while promoting the union. 

 Is it doomed to failure as many scholars proclaim? History indicates that will be the final result. It won't be a failure of the system however, it will be a failure of the people. It really is as Adams said, only for a moral and religious people. We are seeing the destruction of both. It is being done in the name of progress, of enlightenment and inclusion. It's nothing new, that has taken place across all of human history. Interesting to note is that in our science fiction we have entire worlds united to form a union, a confederation to oppose other confederations. And what is always the evil of those other federations? Their morality doesn't align with our own. Even when there is no religious practices involved morality is the central issue. Doing what is right. The union, the federation will determine that. That is how we became America. We need to keep doing that!    

"Dreams are there to be realized, not to be dreamed. 

 To realize a dream, you have to stay steadfast in your strong will." ~ Gackt     

 

We can not remain long divided among ourselves. It isn't political ideology that is causing this divisive atmosphere. It is that we have forgotten what created us in the first place. As we proclaim America is a land of immigrants, we must remember and realize that it was those immigrants that joined together, formed the union and created America. They didn't do so by celebrating their individuality but rather by their desire to form one! Indeed it was those immigrants that expanded ever westward fulfilling the manifest destiny. That expansion began in 1803 after the purchase of the Louisiana territory. France sold it to us, they needed the money. The expansion began, immigrants arrived with the dream of owning their own land, living free from oppression, they embraced the American Republic and became Americans! We do need to remain steadfast in that dream! Be the exception!   

                                                                                      

You are required to raise your right hand while saying the oath of citizenship. It's a promise made. It does require a moral person to fulfill that promise. That is what Adams' was talking about.