Democracy Archives

America’s Hopeful Vision Transcends Political Division

In this semiquincentennial year, I’ve heard more than a few folks say they wish they felt more celebratory about America at 250 but political division gets in the way. So much rancor and disagreement around every corner. It’s true, we live in a highly polarized moment of history. But I’m not sure that makes us unique, let alone defines us. In fact, today’s political climate bears an uncanny resemblance to that of early American politics.

I submit the case of two Founding Fathers: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. The same duo that brought us the Declaration of Independence, also introduced political division. They shared the same vision for American independence but held intensely different views as to the nature of the new republic. For decades they worked in tandem. Then for years, they found themselves at cross-purposes, and their bond of friendship slowly unraveled. In time, the two would rekindle their long-held amity. The full arc of their friendship provides a sympathetic model for how we each might approach our own feelings in the countdown to America’s 250th.

America’s Money Problem

America’s money problems didn’t start with today’s $36 trillion national debt (though that’s a whopper of a problem). In fact, if George Washington were telling the story, he might say that money woes nearly cost America her independence from the start.

For eight long years, despite repeated pleas to Congress, Washington was forced to bootstrap a half-starved, rag-tag, and disease-ridden Continental Army. As Joseph J. Ellis writes in Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of American Independence, “The Continental Army was kept on life support but was never provided the money and men Washington requested, even though the resources for a larger and better-equipped army were readily available.”

In part, the brick wall Washington repeatedly ran into centered on a reluctance among delegates to embrace the idea of a central army. A powerful military was one of their chief grievances against the British Crown after all.

America’s Countdown to 250!

It’s true. America’s countdown to 250 has begun. With the arrival of July 4th festivities this week, America steps into an important year of celebration and reflection. In 12 short months, we will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the beginning of our bold, beautiful, and often boisterous nation.

In the current climate, the lead-up to our semiquincentennial feels equal parts momentous and fractious. How do we prepare ourselves for this historic milestone? A short answer…crack open a book!

A Few F-words for 4th of July

Patriotism has taken a hit in recent years. Especially during the 4th of July. In some circles it’s fashionable to slam the U. S. of A. — to punctuate its flaws and denigrate its virtues. Other camps seem to have confused love of country with an exaggerated sense of purpose. Either way, decorating the porch with red, white and blue bunting feels a little off kilter this year.

I’m old enough to remember the national exuberance during the Bicentennial celebration in 1976. That summer, tall ships filled New York and Boston harbors. Johnny Cash served as Grand Marshall at the U.S. Bicentennial parade in our nation’s capital on the 4th of July. There was an official Bicentennial logo and commemorative postage stamps, coins, license plates and other merchandise.

Disneyland and Disney World hosted America on Parade. Local communities painted benches, fire hydrants, mailboxes and phone booths in patriotic colors. The popular Schoolhouse Rock! series created America Rock to teach youngsters about American history and government. (Throughout the year, I proudly wore the shirt my mom hand embroidered using the Betsy Ross animated character from the series – seen here.)

That summer, the wave of patriotism drenched America from coast to coast. We loved it. It felt refreshing to celebrate our nation on the 4th of July. To acknowledge our history with a sense of accomplishment even as we emerged from some difficult moments including the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal.

By many accounts, America is having a difficult moment right now, in 2023. We are polarized. We are mean-spirited. We are worried.

Which is precisely why the 4th of July is a good time to pause and ponder the fundamental and enduring values we continue to hold dear. It’s okay to do that even as we acknowledge our shortcomings. And it’s possible to respectfully observe nearly 250 years of achievement from a posture of humility.

Here’s a start. A carefully curated selection of F-words worthy of celebration this 4th of July, from the pages of our own history:

Our Civic Mission

Our Civics Mission How do we cultivate thoughtful, engaged and informed citizens, and what is our civic mission? In his farewell address to the nation on January 11, 1989, President Ronald Reagan posed the question, “Are we doing a good enough job teaching our children what America is and what she represents in the long history of the world?”

Fast forward a few decades and the answer seems a solid “no.” What might have been a clarion call by the 40th President back then has turned into a formidable crisis in the 21st century. Continue reading “Our Civic Mission”

Religious Freedom Focus of Historic UNGA Meeting

Religious Freedom UNGA Meeting — Photo Credit: State Department/Ron Przysucha/ Public Domain

On Monday, President Trump became the first U.S. President in history to convene a meeting at the United Nations focused solely on the issue of religious freedom. The event, hailed as a “Global Call to Protect Religious Freedom,” kicked off this year’s U.N. General Assembly in New York.

“Today, I ask all nations to join us in this urgent moral duty,” said Trump to a room crowded with high-level government officials, faith leaders, business leaders, and religious freedom advocates. “We ask the governments of the world to honor the eternal right of every person to follow their conscience, live by their faith, and give glory to God.” Continue reading “Religious Freedom Focus of Historic UNGA Meeting”

IRF Ministerial Wrap-up

A short post to wrap-up coverage of this week’s Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom. More substantive posts will follow in the weeks ahead to unpack the many important initiatives and stories that flowed from this week’s discussions. In this space, a few observations: Continue reading

ARTICLE: Slow Fade or Renewal of Spirit?

*George W. Bush delivering speech at Spirit of Liberty Forum. Source: George W. Bush Institute.*

By Erin Rodewald // October 25, 2017

(This article originally appeared in Providence magazine)

America in the 21^st century is experiencing an identity crisis of sorts. The nation seems caught in a cultural maelstrom that is producing a crisis of confidence here at home. Free speech is disputed on college campuses, religious freedom is challenged in the courts, and the press is criticized for fabricating news to drive a particular political agenda. Our civic decency and national discourse have been compromised.

Meanwhile, economic, political, and national security concerns have sparked a renewed appetite among many Americans—private citizens and elected officials alike—to turn a collective gaze inward. An apparent downturn in what was once an enthusiastic embrace of the basic tenets of democracy and open markets may be jeopardizing what has been a robust and longstanding foreign policy engagement.

Is the liberal democratic order that has provided stability, prosperity, and freedom across the globe for the better part of 70 years in peril? Is America witnessing a slow fade of its core values, or is the country at a tipping point that will lead to a renewal of the spirit of liberty? Continue reading “ARTICLE: Slow Fade or Renewal of Spirit?”

ARTICLE: On Women’s Equality Day, a Nod to the Dual Importance of Equality and Freedom

In anticipation of Women’s Equality Day, a look at the treatment of women throughout the world, focusing on the nations of the Middle East.

(This article originally appeared in Philos Project)

Tomorrow, August 26, will mark the 44th observance of Women’s Equality Day in the United States. The day commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution – which granted women the right to vote – but also calls attention to ongoing disparities and continuing efforts toward full gender equality.

To be sure, the gender gap in this country is real. For example, women earn 80 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts. And in 21st century corporate America, only a quarter of CEOs are women.

Still, American women have made important advances in the past 4 1/2 decades, excelling in all aspects of society, including business, academia, politics, athletics, medicine, law, journalism, the arts and the home. Some highlights include:

Continue reading “ARTICLE: On Women’s Equality Day, a Nod to the Dual Importance of Equality and Freedom”

BOOK REVIEW: In Defense of Democracy: Condoleezza Rice Explores the Long (and Worthy) Road to Freedom

In her new book, Democracy, Condoleezza Rice reminds us that “Freedom has not lost its appeal.”

(This article originally appeared at Philos Project)

Tomorrow, America will celebrate its 241st birthday. As in years past, July 4 festivities across the nation will stir our collective sense of patriotism. There will be parades and marching bands. Spectacular fireworks will light up the night sky from New York to Los Angeles. In towns and cities across the land, Old Glory will wave and remind us that because we are steeped in a tradition of democracy, we remain a country where all men are created equal – that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

But the contentious political climate in America circa 2017, combined with an apparent upsurge in popularity of autocrats abroad – Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines, Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey and Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Egypt, to name a few – has many observers wondering if the American experiment has timed out. Could this generation be witness to the worldwide decline of democracy?

In her new book Democracy: Stories from the Long Road to Freedom, former U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice abjures the skeptics and dispels the myth that democracy is in retreat. On the contrary, she argued that democracy – while inherently flawed and always imperfect – remains the best means to promote peace and ensure human freedom, dignity and progress around the world.

Continue reading “BOOK REVIEW: In Defense of Democracy: Condoleezza Rice Explores the Long (and Worthy) Road to Freedom”