The American Way

A little over six years ago when I first launched the very amateurish and simplistic original version of The Independent Voter I had the pleasure of posting a truly moving essay by Todd Fishkind called WHY GOD IS NOT A REPUBLICAN . . . NOR A DEMOCRAT.

One of these days I'm gonna have to write up the backstory behind both the parent website as well as this blog. Suffice to say that Todd's essay was posted as a comment on an AOL message board which we both frequented at the time. As I recall it was a board dedicated to discussing Al Gore's bid for the presidency.

Anyway, after not hearing from him for several years I just received an email from Todd submitting another essay. He actually wrote it up last year, but it's new to me and I'd like to post it here in it's entirety:

The American Way
by Todd Fishkind
March 17, 2005 AD

Our nation is regarded by many as the greatest on earth. We began as an English colonial settlement; and, in an act of war against the tyranny of the British crown, cut the apron straps of the mother country to form our own nation. We were born in revolution and bloodshed, and now embrace her as our closest ally. Fashioned upon great vision by our founding fathers, who lived within the Christian consensus of their time, great values, themes and injunctions came forth for both the individual, and for the betterment of society. Moral value and principled judgment -- in a word, individualized self-government (as opposed to mere external restraints and controls) were among the concepts that would grant us, and give us ongoing assurance of, those liberties and freedoms that we cherish today. Among these concepts, held dear since our inception, were treasures like democracy, right to dissent, freedom of speech, freedom to worship as we wish, tolerance for diversity and free elections based on a two (or more) party system. These, among other values, as embodied in our Constitution and Bill Of Rights, became fondly known as the American way.

The government saw to state affairs, by way of legal authority, while institutions like Church and Synagogue saw to matters moral and spiritual, by way of influence and persuasion. And both forms of authority were based on Holy Writ, although exercised, or outwardly manifest in different ordained functions, the former by official or "gentile" authority, the latter by spiritual authority. And both have worked marvelously and harmoniously, by and large, across the pages of history. This is our rich heritage, and part of the American Way.

During the course of history, we have also been known as "the great melting pot," landmarked in the 19th century by a great gift to us from France - The Statue Of Liberty. Herein, peoples of various cultures, race and nationality might blend, free of persecution, each promoting and contributing their own wonderful attributes, unique to their background to bless and enrich the greater whole. Injustices, flaws and all, and we have plenty, we have been regarded the world over as the greatest of nations as we continue to grow and diversify with a large influx of immigration. Indeed, we have all come from immigrants of one country or another in our ancestry. Even the American Indians may be traced from other people groups, such as South America and Asia. Ever notice the Asian features on the faces of various Indian tribes and Eskimos? Perhaps they crossed the Aleutian Islands along the Bering Strait, or some other ancient land bridge. It is a wonderful, anthropological study as we survey the beauty of diverse cultures coming together from various beginnings, long ago and far away.

Such diversity is also an integral part of The American Way.

America might be called the greatest socioeconomic experiment in the governing of human affairs since the Roman Empire, whose world dominance spanned centuries before its final moral implosion and eventual capitulation to the hands of the invading Goths and neighboring barbarian tribes. We will ever battle and quarrel among ourselves over ideology, policy, law (both legitimately and vexatiously), the pervasiveness of religion and morality (and anti-religion and anti-morality) in today's largely secular society. For this is the American way.

But, at the end of the day, when the dust has settled and we regain our senses and our civility from our impassioned causes, we must have tolerance toward one another for our differences. For this, too, is the American way.

Let us pause for a moment on Diversity, for this is very important. When we say "tolerance for diversity," we mean tolerance for all. This means civility and respect toward people who differ in race, nationality, culture, creed, sexual preference and political view - whether it be Liberal, Conservative, Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, Peace and Freedom, Greenpeace, Deep Purple, whatever (blatant criminal behavior obviously excluded). In our hearts, we all struggle. As humans, we are not above human experience, and so we are all likewise tempted to want to mutilate someone over this or that value or concept that we disagree with. And then "tolerance toward all" becomes "tolerance for all, except the conservatives," or "tolerance for all except the Jews," or "for all except the Christians and Catholics," or "for all except the liberals," or those of a certain political persuasion.

Which "all" are we talking about? Tolerance for diversity with ALL people. For this is the American way.

We also struggle inside because "we have knowledge in part," to quote the Pauline epistle. "For now we see thru a glass darkly (or a mirror dimly), but then face to face" - in reference to God. We cannot see the fulness of God's providential purposes. We have finite minds and are therefore limited by that finitude. As such, we must do our best to promote those values we hold dear, and having done that, to trust, ultimately, that Infinite, Almighty God is in control.

It is sheer lunacy to think that Life, manifest in such awesome intelligence, marvelous complexity and incredible intricacy all proceeded out of absolute vacuum. Surely such great effect -- the universe... and us -- has a Cause. And surely creation proceeded from an Intelligent, Governing Source, and will be coming soon to a planet near you. Can any sane or rational being REALLY believe that all the birds, plants, animals --thousands of species -- the stars, galaxies all in perfect balance proceeded out of nothing or non-being? Wanna have a religious experience? Just study the human anatomy, with this is mind. Go to a zoo. It will blow your mind. (In a good way, of course). This is known as Natural Theology.

"He that formed the eye, is He without seeing? He that planted the ear, is He without hearing?," to quote the great psalmist King David... to which I'd like to add, "He that created the personality, is He not Personal??"

And this great Sun of Brilliance is beyond and throughout the cosmos, including us. Nearer than the most near, dearer than the most dear. And He oversees human affairs. Across history, God allows the passion play to unfold, including wars, and cruelty of all kinds. He granted us free will, to sow and to reap of our own choices, both individually and collectively. And so man makes bad choices, then blames them on another man, or on the woman, or on God. Much is sad in the world. But God exists in Eternity, we exist in time. How could a good and loving God allow all this to go on?

When He made us, He knew all the potentials. Nothing surprises Him. And, to remove all evil, He would have to remove it ALL (not just the politicians). He would have to remove it not only in its ACTUAL form, but also in its POTENTIAL. (Remember, free will). That would leave no one left but Him.

And that is not the American way.

(Thank God it's not His way either.)

For some reason, He chose to create us anyway. I'm glad He did. Aren't you? I think it's because He loves us. And in the end, at the appointed time, at the consummation of the ages, He will sort all things out, the evil and the good, "the sheep from the goats." And one way or another He will bring an end to all evil. It is a good thing to live mindful of this day, ready to give account for what we have done before a good and loving, but also, Holy and righteous God. If everyone did this, what a wonderful world it would be, in spite of the differences.

To dread the thought of hurting someone, (people are of such great value, you know... priceless!); to be sickened at the thought of stealing, lying... imagine what a world that would be like. It would be heaven!

What if someone were to face Him in judgment and say, "Well, God, I never had a chance!" So here, we can catch a glimpse as to why a good and loving God allows all of our choices to play out. For in so doing, each person's character, formed by their many choices over the long-term, may be made clearly manifest. Much evil happens along the way, as we see. Very messy. Extremely so. But a lifetime on this earth is not even a drop in the sea, for the sea is finite, but Eternity is Infinite Time.

Free choice? Talk about a land of Liberty! God is not an American, nor a Republican, nor a Democrat. But He sure controls America. Her destiny, her purpose and role in world history - faults and all - (and they are many and run deep) are all in His hands. America is surely not justified for her wrong actions and mistaken policies, where they are wrong and mistaken. There is a judgment for nations as well. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" For this is the Divine way.

From the greater perspective of Divine Providence, we can better understand the incipiency of will, and can enjoy a much greater spirit of tolerance for one another... a tolerance that bridges great gaps, forms worthy alliances in social situations, and rebirths an appreciation for those who are not exactly like ourselves.

It never means that we have to agree with one another's positions or views - we often disagree. It simply means that we agree to disagree, agreeably.

It means that we might easily enjoy a Love that is larger than our differences, a Love for mankind and womankind that acknowledges and respects the Great Worth that each individual possesses, and salutes that in one another. For this also is the American way.

And this is also God's way, and we cannot, MUST not utterly root Him out of our culture and infrastructure, as some activists are trying to do.

WARNING:

WHEN SOCIETY DEPARTS FROM MORAL ABSOLUTES, SOCIETY BECOMES ABSOLUTE.

We cannot rewrite history -- HIS-STORY -- but must move forward, a nation united, in spite of our differences. Let us all be part of the solution, not part of the problem, seeking love, nobility and excellence in spirit in the things we do.

It is in adversity that great character is formed. Courage is not the absence of fear, but pressing on in spite of fear. And such is the greatness of our unity, made great not in the absence of differences, but in spite of them, and because of them. Holy writ speaks of "preserving the unity of the Spirit" (His Spirit), not the unity of the intellect. And greatness of heart comes from God's Great Heart.

Hopefully, this is still the American way.

I am made of the same stuff as you. The same 14 basic elements of the earth. As for me, I was raised a Democrat, in a very liberal-leaning family. My father was a professional musician. In the mid 70s, after years of study in Yoga, Hinduism, Rosicrucianism, metaphysics and the mind sciences, I ended up embracing the historic Christian faith. I became a registered Republican. I knew little about right wing issues, and didn't care at the time. I simply became a Republican in revulsion to certain 'left wing' positions. Then, by the mid 90s, became an Independent centrist in revulsion to certain 'right wing' positions. That's all.

Confessions Of A Former Clinton Hater

I confess to being a former Clinton-hater." Eventually I saw that I was wrong, though I didn't agree with his positions. I have even found him kinda likable. (Gee, I hope I don't get flamed for this!) And I CRINGE every time I'm at the checkout stand and see his and Hillary's faces smeared across muckraker "newspapers" with the latest malicious gossip, the latest scandal and disparagement on personal character for the ugly, media treadmill. The people-destroying machine. And this kind of media is an equal-opportunity basher & smearer as it shreds liberals and conservatives alike, all for a buck. Saddest part of all, such papers thrive because people actually eat this stuff. I'm sick and tired of it. Aren't you?

But I rejoice when I see Clinton and Bush, Sr. (both icons of hate past) go together to observe and report on the great aftermath of tsunami destruction. They didn't HAVE to do that. But they did willingly, remained together and returned together in a spirit of excellence and admirable bipartisanship. It wasn't purely for show. It went deeper. No one for a moment was trying to convince the other on political views and policy. They still have their agendas to pursue in life. But they made a huge statement. They have set aside their differences and buried the hatchet after a bitter rivalry between two political dynasties. It showed great sportsmanship. Life's greater values, like rivers, run deeper than our impassioned causes and agendas. It was like they were saying, "We get it."

To see this, and other displays of bipartisanship is refreshing, and good for our nation. It's a win - win situation. For this is the American way.

Cynicism - Doubting the good intentions of others. We are Americans. We do not need to massacre another's personal character, however mislead we may believe that person to be.

And we have also enjoyed great leaders in our history, from both parties. It is human nature to polarize in our ideologies, and to tend toward extremes. God saw this, and uses the extremes as a counterbalance, each for the other, when our nation drifts too far off course. The extreme party is not always justified in its choosing. Nor do the ends justify the means. But in the greater picture, God is in control. Both parties get their turn. And the pendulum swings back and forth, and always will in human history, until in the end, at the completion of our time, it comes to a peaceful rest at the center.

So let us be impassioned for our righteous causes.
But let us also be kind.
For God is kind.
And this is also the American way.