God Bless -- and Forgive -- America

I recently had a discussion on social media with someone about the effects of slavery on the overall economy of the early United States.

The discussion (predictably) included inputs from some whose comments seemed more intended to divide than unite.

On social media! I know...right?!?

I was presented with the following question:

"So it sounds as if cotton and slavery are very intertwined. What shall we do?!"

While it might have been intended to be dismissive and/or snarky, I chose to accept it as an honest inquiry worthy of a thoughtful response:

What shall we do?

My reply:

I certainly don't claim to have all the answers but here are some thoughts about what we could do:

-       Acknowledge the fact that at the time of our great Nation's declaration of independence from England -- a declaration that included the phrase, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..." -- the practices of many of those in power did not align with this principle. Their businesses (including the cotton industry and others which benefited from it) benefited from the exploitation of African slaves.

-       Try to understand that because of this fact, those whose ancestry included slaves are likely have a far different reaction to discussions about the founding of this country than those of us who descended from European ancestors.

-       Accept that these reactions are valid and based on facts from our history.

-       Openly and freely discuss the uncomfortable notion that not all of America's history is noble. Just like an individual is flawed, so too is the fabric of our country. When a person screws up, most of us have respect for them when they acknowledge their mistake and do what they can to make things right, particularly when they correct the damage done to others. Same holds true for a group of people, even a nation.

-       In that vein, one would have to acknowledge and understand the harm done in order to repair it. The only way to do that is to truly listen to and hear the perspective of those harmed. Kind of like what our forefathers did in their missive to King George and the world back in 1776.

So, Steve, to my way of thinking, the first thing we as a nation can do is un-defensively hear the perspective of others whose experiences are different than ours. The list of those who view this great experiment differently from us is long: African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Spanish- and other non-English-speaking immigrants, LGBTQ+, women...the list goes on.

We create a nation where those differences can be discussed openly, with an eye toward finding our common human ground. We create an environment based on the principle that, in fact, ALL people are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

We be human first and American second.

I am eternally grateful for the fact that I was born in this great country. I take no pride in that fact, however, as I had nothing to do with that.

I do, however, take pride in having stood to defend those whose voices were not being heard and for fighting for those who could not fight for themselves. I take pride in earnestly listening and trying to understand the perspective of those whose experiences are different than mine. I take pride in the fact that when I screw up -- which I often do -- I can acknowledge it and do what i can to make things right, then not do that thing again.

I take pride in being a decent, though imperfect, human being.

Those are the things America is capable of. And it's up to each of us to insist upon it, as a Nation.

Perhaps this would be more succinct (and coherent) after coffee but your question weighed on my heart.

So today, on the 243rd anniversary of the declaration of our independence as a Nation, I ask that God continue to bless, guide, and forgive all Americans as we endeavor to grow toward the ideals upon which the Nation was ostensibly formed.

The United States Flag, tattered but intact, imperfect but representative of an aspirational ideal.
Taken at Veterans Park in Leander, Texas on Memorial Day 2019
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