“Give me liberty or give me death!” “…(T)hese united Colonies are, and of right
ought to be, free and independent states….”
“I have not yet begun to fight.”
Patrick Henry spoke for the American cause. The Declaration speaks for itself, as does the life of
Nathan Hale, a spy who died with a noose around his neck, for the American cause. John Paul Jones sailed into harm’s way and
fought in British waters for the American cause.
It is not easy
being an American; it is demanding. For
we are summoned to the quest—a recurring theme throughout our history. Thus, Thomas Paine said, “The cause of
America…is the cause of mankind.” And
Alexander Hamilton referred to the young republic as “a country which, with wisdom, might make herself the admiration and envy of the world.” (The Federalist Papers, No. 11) Then Abraham Lincoln played a Stradivarius and
hit the right notes: “We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope
of earth.” Indeed, much is required to form—and
preserve—“a more perfect Union.” “And
so, my fellow Americans,” said John F. Kennedy, “ask not what your country can
do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”
High ideals
are hazardous. When written and proclaimed to the world, they leave a country
open to charges of hypocrisy. But
falling short does not mean the end is unworthy. What matters is that the effort continues. For, as the French philosopher said,
“Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue.”*
Thus, there is awareness of
shortcomings. But a world without such
tribute is hopeless, because “the unjust knoweth no shame.” (Zephaniah 3:5, KJV)
A well-ordered
republic allows some to imagine that they have virtues they do not possess. And the pretense can go on so long as the
common defense means only the common people do the defending. But the time is at hand, the crisis has
arrived. Lip service—mouthpiece
patriotism—will not do.
Originally, the
common defense was to be a common experience, a constant reminder that
citizenship consists of rights and duties—an adherence to ideals even
when inconvenient. “Every State
possesses, not only the right of personal service from its members, but the
right to regulate the service on principles of equality for the general
defense.” As a result, Secretary of War
Henry Knox wrote, in the report President Washington had him send to Congress
in support of Universal National Service, “All being bound, none can
complain of injustice, on being obliged to perform his equal proportion.” (Emphasis added) Thus, there is more to being an American than
birth in the United States, or through the lineage of one’s parents, or by naturalization. Beyond legalities, it is a state of mind—and
action.
Before
crossing the Delaware, Washington’s line was determination itself: “Victory or
Death.” And if the Commander in Chief of
the Continental Forces had such an attitude on the eve of battle, we can at
least make October 19, 2019 Act Like A Patriot Day. For the ideals of the Revolution—“life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”—cannot become reality without the pledge
of “our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”
* Francois de La Rochefoucauld
