On July 4, 1776, the original 13 colonies of the United States of America officially severed their ties to the rule of Great Britain with a Declaration of Independence. Today, this holiday allows us to reflect on not only our freedom from Great Britain, but also on how we identify as citizens of the United States of America.
As a child I learned in school that our country was a melting pot. I was intrigued by the notion of lots of different people being poured into a place together, and blending their cultures and languages and colors.
Many people have forgotten -- or never learned -- the truth about the beginning of our country. In school, I loved hearing about the hands that built the United States of America. I loved learning about the settlements of the colonies, the culture of those early days. But I also know that we are a very different country now. And we have discovered that the history of our nation includes some events and people that were never included in the history books that we read in school.
Not everyone has enjoyed the same freedom and benefits that I had as I grew up. Although this country was founded by immigrants, and in fact we are all immigrants, we are still struggling to understand the inequities across our land.
The document signed more than 200 years ago contained within it inherent contradictions.
The Declaration of Independence declared “that all men are created equal,” endowed with the right to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” but the laws that followed did not apply to Black or Native Americans, or to women.
When it comes to thinking about how things are right now emotionally in the United States, I would identify a different metaphor than melting pot. Because we are SO divided politically and in terms of values, I see our country as a land of islands. We are divided into pods of people based on our political and social beliefs.
We live on our islands and sometimes yell across the water at our neighbors on the next island who have disappointed us, but who are still like us in so many ways.
When large-scale tragedy hits the land, we quickly and lovingly build a bridge to the next few islands and cross over to offer help, and love and prayers, and then when life returns to "normal" we tear the bridges back down.....
That's the emotional part of living in this country.. Always physically separated from each other, due to the states and distance, but always connected in some pep rally kind of way in spirit and pride. We are far from a perfect nation, but I still believe in the greatness of this country.
Mostly, I guess, I believe in the greatness of people.
When things don’t make sense, I often turn my sights and my heart inward and I narrow my gaze. When I look locally at groups of people, I feel encouraged. When I look at kindness and community and support on my individual islands, I know that people are often loving and generous.
When I think about what it means to be a citizen of this country, I think of freedom….even though I know that there are marginalized groups of people who have never really felt free. Yet I still find hope in the human spirit. I still believe that people will continue to care about each other and about the inequities that remain in our nation. And in caring about the imbalance of freedoms, power, opportunities and wages, I believe that good people will continue to fight for those freedoms for all people.
A few years ago, a fifth grade teacher asked his students What does freedom mean to you?
A student named Hadley wrote this response: "Freedom means to have the right to do and say what you like. That is how the dictionary defines freedom. Pope John Paul II said that “Every generation of Americans needs to know that freedom consists not in doing what we like, but having the right to do what we ought.”
I think freedom is an amazing thing, because at 11 years old, I’m able to have an education, learn to play the French Horn, and learn how to sing in a choir. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, we have police, doctors, and fire fighters to help us when we need it. We have soldiers fighting for our freedom. Their courage allows me to think of things I’d like to do, like care for my cats and dogs, read or draw. That’s what freedom mean to me.""
The words written by that student, remind me of a passage in the Bible about freedom. It’s found in Galatians chapter 5: It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. — Galatians 5:13-15 The Message
I think this passage helps us to connect patriotism of our nation — with its promise of freedom — to the freedom we receive from God. I think that within this passage there is a caution that our freedom should not be self-serving but rather it should be a freedom of generosity and compassion.
Rosa Parks understood this notion of freedom of generosity and compassion, as evidenced by these words: “I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free…so other people would be also free.” — Rosa Parks
Our hope lies in people. On the local level. And on the national and international level. Our hope for true freedom lies in our ability to remember the hands that built our country, to remember that many of those hands were not allowed in the main house, and to remember that we are all immigrants.
Franklin D. Roosevelt said it best: “Remember, remember always, that all of us…are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
Yes, our country is flawed, but despite its failings, our country is a good one. While I keep the phrase melting pot in my head as part of my worldview -- I also keep the Statue of Liberty in my head as part of my worldview. I see our country as a lighthouse of hope. I still believe it is one of the greatest lands of opportunity, filled with resources, opportunities, education, and hope. Amen.
Consider these beautiful words written by Desmond Tutu:
“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” ~ Desmond Tutu
May those words challenge us this week.
Have a great Sunday, and go in peace. Amen.
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