I received a good public education. It was a Cold War education. There were two things that my education succeeded in instilling in me.
First, you’ve got to be nuts to admit that you don’t believe in the Biblical God. And, second, you’ve got to be a crazed lunatic to believe in Marxist-Leninism. I believe the Cold War generations were so thoroughly indoctrinated into these two dogmas, that every politician understands and abides by the same wisdom.
George Washington could not tell a lie. Lincoln is known as ‘Honest Abe’. Santa Claus lives on 34th street. And George Bush is a resolute ‘compassionate’ conservative.
I love American myths. In fact, ironically, when I actually studied Washington and Lincoln, I gained respect for them. When I studied Martin Luther King, Jr., I gained respect for him. Even though I was quickly disabused of the saintly myths I had been taught about these historical figures, the truth was even more impressive than the lies.
:::flip:::
We always attempt to make our greatest figures into more than they deserve to be.
But Washington was the perfect counterpoint to monarchy. Lincoln was the principled opponent of slavery, and Dr. King was the principled counter-example to the violent opposition to oppression.
I believe in their myths, and I believe even more in their flaws. Their flaws give us hope that we can approach their resoluteness and their effectivness.
When I think about what I love about America, I think about Washington, Lincoln, and King.
I regret that no politician can admit a skepticism about their belief in the Biblical God, and I see very little in Marxist-Leninism to defend, but I have the typical American affliction…I believe that we have the big things right.
The world is fortunate that it had America to oppose monarchy, fascism, and communism. But we have lost our way.
So, what do you love about America?
