So, what place am I writing about today? My answer is nowhere, well the thought of home, I’m talking about the house where I was raised, is creeping to the forefront of my mind. And with that, the nation as a whole seems a relevant topic, so I’ll write about this country, my country, the United States of America.
What I’ve learned in recent readings, lectures and documentaries is that this nation, despite being liberated through war, was wholly founded on diplomacy. Even the holiday, Thanksgiving, is a symbol of differing races, cultures or ethnicities, however you want to put it, living in harmony. And while relationships between Native Americans and colonials had ultimately deteriorated, much of what we can learn from our forefathers’ original intentions, intentions which were only partially realized, was that compromise and negotiation has always led the way towards unity.
Heck, when compared to other revolutions around the world, the struggle for power, I’m talking about between those who usurped the King, was not a bloody affair, it was a democratic endeavor, even if a strong and stable American government took a few years to form. The only blood shed by our forefathers, many who fought bitterly for their vision, an ambition of wishes for a fledgling nation, would have been by Alexander Hamilton. And that, even if it happened to be death by gunshot, was a fairly gentlemanly way of handling an escalating dispute.
Today, as we look through history’s rear view mirror, Thomas Jefferson’s claim that ‘all men are created equal’ seems sheer hypocrisy. Even some whites, by restraints set in some early state constitutions, were considered second class citizens. But by nature of those words, and the men who believed in this American ideal, that statement, along with a constitution that, for the most part, seemed to support Jefferson’s bold words, has led to continuous changes in perceptions. It has challenged us to see beyond our sphere and accept people with totally foreign view points.
I say all this, as it may seem a bit rambling, because of this; Thanksgiving is the celebration of Europeans settling in North America, and the thankfulness they felt towards the local Native Americans. It was, in essence, the conception of the United States. And, had we stayed steadfast in the belief that all men were created equal, as the Pilgrims must have realized with humility, our country may have averted many hardships. I’m truly thankful for my family, God, this nation and all Americans, regardless of what side of the aisle your beliefs lie.
And if you’re thankful that I didn’t write about some obscure Wisconsin destination, the relief is short lived. Holiday season has so many events and activities. I guess I should be thankful for that also, and the fact that God allows me to write about them.
Safe Travels!
Chris Writing Anything 