“We have to find a way to celebrate
our diversity and debate our differences without fracturing our
communities.”
-Hillary
Clinton
The strength of America depends upon
the diversity of its people. The nation was built by a diverse
population as a home for those seeking freedom and personal liberty,
and it continues to thrive because of the distinctive heterogeneity
that comprises the multi-textured fabric of the union.
The strength, resilience, and
richness of the United States of America are derived from the
diversity of its citizens. Diversity creates an organization that is
enriched with people from different cultures and that have different
experiences, lifestyles, backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas. For
this reason, the country is known as a "melting pot" of
humanity. All races, ethnicities, religions and creeds found in
America "melt" together to become stronger than any one
ingredient alone.
Although Lady Liberty, facing
Atlantic homelands, traditionally held the light of hope for
immigrants from Europe, she symbolizes a land promising that light
for every immigrant from every corner of the earth. Through author
Emma Lazarus, the Lady speaks to all:
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses, yearning to breath free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."
And these diverse people do still come to America. Each of them adds their unique backgrounds and talents to the country where they are guaranteed equal worth and where they are entitled to the same privileges and opportunities regardless of their age, national origin, disability, gender, or race.
"We take young men and
women from all backgrounds, some who come several generations of
Americans and some who are first generation Americans, and turn them
into a force with a common focus, the defense of our great way of
life. We understand better than most that success has nothing to do
with the color of your skin, where you were born, or the type of
religion to which you belong. In fact, we know there is only one
color of importance to the Soldier and that is Army green. And, we
know that it is what you achieve that matters."
(www.Army.Mil,
"The Official Homepage of the U.S. Army")
No wonder the U.S. Armed Services are
the most formidable forces in the world. The services are environments
where every member is valued and challenged to achieve their
potential while executing their duties and their mission. Soldier to
soldier, they work together to perform the tasks at hand.
If we truly believe that diversity
represents the strength and hope for our communities and our country,
we must better school ourselves in methods to work cooperatively in
order to move forward. Instead of automatically rejecting the views
of those from different backgrounds and mindsets, we need to open our
minds to others and find points of agreement upon which to build new
frameworks that uphold the principles set forth in our Constitution.
When we are taught the Preamble, we
feel pride and confidence when we read these words:
“We the people of the
United States, to form a more perfect Union, establish
Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure
the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do
ordain and establish this Constitution for the
United States of America.”
Today, perhaps it is appropriate to
apply these words to diversity. Maybe we should think just a little
more about the semantics of the famous declaration. “We”
are all the “people” of this great democracy, every last
one of us. That alone binds us with the obligation to work for the
common good and to recognize the rights of everyone. The Preamble
does not say I “ordain and establish this
Constitution.” It does not say that I interpret
its meaning for my interests.
The Preamble clearly states its
intention of establishing a government of the people to form “a
more perfect union.” That
phrase acknowledges the fact that no union is perfect, but it also
establishes the goal of a government in the hands of the people. So,
the goal of all people is to strive to perfect the union in all its
vast diversity, disagreement, and contention. To be an American is to
take the pledge of establishing harmony, not discord.
And
how does the Preamble delineate the tools of the people for
establishing union and harmony?
(1)
“Justice”
The emphasis is upon social justice.
A socially just society is based on the principles of
equality and solidarity. It understands and values human rights and
recognizes the dignity of every human being.
(2) “Domestic Tranquility”
Domestic
comes from the Latin word domus meaning “house
or home.” Of course, American society works best when there
is peace in the homes of all our citizens, not just some. When people do not fear for
their lives, their property, their jobs or their rights, they are
free to live and pursue their happiness. But domestic tranquility
does not come easily, perhaps least of all in a country a diverse as
ours.
Therefore, to build union, the people
need to work and live with those who had been traditional
adversaries, overcoming differences and achieving understanding in
the process. All people, and especially the protectors of peace such
as the police forces and the National Guard, need to establish
sensible, understanding toleration.
(3) “Common Defense” and
“General Welfare”
The government
of the people must be willing to promote the state of well being,
happiness, and prosperity for the whole. They must act in common (all
together) to repel invasion and encourage free trade. The people have
the Constitutional right to assemble, the right to keep and bear
arms, and the right to remain secure against unreasonable search and
seizure. They must defend these rights.
(4) “Secure
the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and our Posterity”
Liberty
is a concept in political philosophy that identifies the condition in
which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according
to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions.
Some of the blessings of liberty include the freedom of religion, the
right to own , the right to own property, and the right to travel
freely within and between states.
We must work as
a people to secure these “blessings” for ourselves and for our
future generations. And, we must do so in a manner that doesn't
infringe upon the liberty of others.
A Huge Request
The Founding
Fathers set a specific, difficult course for the people of our
country. Staying on course requires U.S. citizens to come together to
face the never-ending changes of a modern world. The people must
sacrifice and compromise to achieve progress. The present scourge of divisive politics and
intolerant behavior tears at the fabric of our nation.
In a nation so
blessed with diversity, we must better employ this diversity to
strengthen our common goals, not divide us because of petty fears
over “different” ideas and “different” people. I believe we
possess the will to end partisanship that leads to stalemates and
frustration. The key is to consider the “give and take” cultural
growth that has made our country so strong in its acceptance of the
liberty of the individual and the reliance upon each person to work towards forming
a more perfect union.
The civil war of
“we” against “them” needs to cease. “We” are not separate
entities. “We” are all Americans unified as a nation in a lovely,
colorful diversity. “We” can't always get our way, but “we”
can work with all of “them” to achieve the best for “us.”
Why? “We” are really ALL THE PEOPLE -- the voices and minds of diversity.
Stop dividing my country.
No comments:
Post a Comment