Building an America for the Next Century
We Americans believe that America is exceptional. We actually believe that America can be, in the words of John Winthrop, “as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us,”
That is a major reason that our descent into narrow-mindedness, division, and hatred in the past few decades is tragic.
Tragic, not because of some mythical, perfect past. We are not perfect and should not expect perfection.
Tragic because of our wasted potential, as leaders of the free world, to be an example, not of perfection, but of the ways free people work out our differences, find solutions, and continuously learn from our mistakes.
American Exceptionalism is what we make of it. It is the strength of our founding ideals: Democracy, Freedom, and Ingenuity. Our Constitution does not proscribe answers, but describes a structure and approach to finding new and better answers together. There are no final solutions, including in describing the best structure and approach to finding the next solution.
There are, however, a lot more ways to do it wrong that there are to get it right. That is why we move carefully, honoring the past and learning as we go. That is why we cannot, as a country, except in very limited circumstances, “move fast and break things.”
Progressives believe that progress is possible and that it is based on increased knowledge and understanding about what works and what doesn’t. Our job is to continue the experiment and learn what’s possible.
Progressives believe that our human potential for progress is, as far as we can tell, infinite. Whatever our biological limitations may be, whether physical or psychological, they can be overcome by imagination and knowledge.
Progressives believe that human progress is hard work, driven by trial and error, critical thinking and open-mindedness. We look hard at the ways of the world and ask why and, in the words of Bobby Kennedy, “dream of things that never were and ask, “Why Not?”
Progressives believe that each of us has a contribution to make, even if only as an example of how not to contribute. It is the duty and obligation of each of us to discover that contribution as best we can and bring it to everything we do.
Ancient wisdom reminds us that nature endures by trying everything and seeing what works. Humans have their own version of this process, expressed as the human endeavor to learn and understand.
Pick a problem. Work with your neighbors toward solutions. When they fall short, try again. We are not required to complete this work, but neither are we allowed to ignore it.
We Americans are exceptional, all right. We've been exceptionally cruel and kind, shortsighted and far-reaching, close-minded and open-hearted, open-minded and close-hearted. The list of contradictions goes on and on. We are a complex bunch, and we've fallen short more times than any historian can count, and we have also gotten up and kept on trying, usually led by those who have suffered the most from our shortcomings: Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr., James Baldwin, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth. The list of goes on and on.
The same might be said for Progressives. They too are a motley lot, including everyone from practical pragmatists to far-left ideologues, folks who see the cyclical nature of violence to those who blame only one or another side.
It's hard to capture those complexities and contradictions with labels like Progressives or American Exceptionalism, and when we try, we usually provoke intense reactions from those who see the other side. That's when the "tastes great, less filling" arguments begin. Sigh.
Oscar: you are entitled to your opinion but you are not allowed to lie about my opinion. Please retract your statements about what you think I said. I have plenty of folks asking me why I have not weighed in on either side of that particular tragedy and the reason is that I am not well enough informed to give a useful opinion.
I’m glad the fighting may now stop. Hamas continues to show its brutal and lawless nature. And I do believe Netanyahu had nefarious reasons for carrying on so long. But I object to your aggressive and broad brush statements about Progressives, Israelis, Palestinians and me.
Cut it out or take your opinions elsewhere.