Independence Day: Freedom, Citizenship and Looking Ahead

I like being an American.

There. I’ve said it.

I like living in a country where freedom of speech is part of our heritage.

And where freedom of expression extends even to folks whose ideas aren’t approved by The Establishment’s current iteration.

Usually.

Freedom of Expression, Even for ‘Them’

I was born during the Truman administration, so my teens and the 1960s overlap almost perfectly.

Back then, denouncing communist plots, rock music and the Catholic Church were all the rage among ‘real Americans’.

Emphasis on “rage”.

Looking back at that part of my country’s history, I can see why they were so upset. Their world was crumbling around them.

Folks my age didn’t think “freedom” meant lockstep conformity to the values and preferences of a post-WWII American subculture.

And even America’s highest court had exhibited “un-American” tendencies.

I’m not happy about the 1949-1958 Smith Act trials of Communists, for several reasons. But something good did come of them.

In 1957, the U.S. Supreme Court said that prosecuting folks for what they do is okay, but prosecuting them for what they believe isn’t.

Time passed. Slogans like “communist menace” and “national security” gave way to “tolerance” and “diversity”.

And folks who are either part of The Establishment’s current iteration, or its zealous supporters, still have conniptions when someone doesn’t agree with them. And says so.

Their responses are less of the “House Un-American Activities Committee” ilk and more of the “cancel culture” sort. And that’s another topic.¹

Good Times, Bad Times, and Occasional Flashes of Brilliance

A bunch of formerly-loyal British subjects decided that they’d had enough, and signed “The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America” on July 4, 1776.

I’m not thrilled about some of what some Americans have done over the last 247 years, and realize that America lacks a spotless record.

But, on the whole, I think we’ve done okay. We’ve even — as individuals, unofficial associations and the occasional government entity or official — had the occasional flashes of brilliance.

Like deciding that having officially-unsanctioned beliefs is not a criminal offense.

As a country, we’ve had ups and downs.

The 1920s, for many folks, were good times.

For farmers, not so much.

Partly because government actions that looked good during WWI had unintended consequences, partly because the weather hadn’t been ideal.

Then, in 1929, stock market problems got the attention of city folks. And that’s a whole bunch of other topics that I may get to at another time.

But, whether because or despite Federal actions, we survived. By 1939, the Great Depression was over. For most folks, at any rate. And then WWII started.²

But we’re still here. I see that as a good thing.

I also think it’s a good idea to remember that change happens. And that whatever crisis or bonanza is in play at the moment — won’t last forever.

A remarkable number of us survived WWII, post-war boom times, and a breathtaking series of paradigm shifts we call the Sixties. I think we’ll get through today’s smoke from Canadian wildfires and angsty headlines, too.

Another Drought, and Reasonable Hope

This year’s drought isn’t, so far, as bad as the one two years back.

That’s good news.

What’s happening to crops in my part of the world — could be better.

But it could be worse.

Some of the good news is that we learned a lot from the Dust Bowl: including why over-tilling fields is a bad idea. And that’s yet another topic.

I think there’s a reasonable hope that we — and America — will get through today’s drought, smoke and political news. That’s partly because I see America as much more than this country’s federal, state and local governments.

I like being an American in large part because I live in a country with Americans. Most of us are folks who deliberately moved here, their children, or their descendants. I’m several generations in from the immigrant situation, and I’m wandering off-topic again.

Being a Good Citizen Still Matters

America, and the world, has changed a great deal over the last century. Much of that change has happened since my youth.

Some changes have been for the better, some haven’t. Responsibilities that come with being a citizen? Those haven’t changed.

Since I’m a Catholic, contributing to the good of society and taking part in public life isn’t an option: it’s a responsibility. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1915, 2239)

The details, what I do and how I do it, would vary with time and place.

I live in 21st century America, I’ve got certain abilities and limitations: so, among other things, I write something for this blog and post it each Saturday.

Different cultures provide and allow different kinds of participation. That’s okay. (Catechism, 1915)

I talked about freedom of expression earlier. That’s important.

So is religious freedom: being allowed to believe and act as if those beliefs matter.

As a Catholic, I must support religious freedom — for everybody. (Catechism, 2104-2109)

There’s more to being Catholic than being a good citizen. But it’s important. And it’s part of acting as if what I believe matters.

The ‘citizenship’ part of my faith boils down to loving God and my neighbor, and seeing everyone as my neighbor. That’s everyone. No exceptions. (Matthew 5:43-44, 7:12, 22:36-40, Mark 12:28-31; 10:25-27, 29-37; Catechism, 1789)

Justice, Charity, Respect: They’re Worth Trying

I’m just some guy living in central Minnesota, so changing the course of world history isn’t a reasonable goal.

But I must do what I can: working toward a greater degree of justice and charity, and respect for “the transcendent dignity of man,” in America. And in the world. (Catechism, 1928-1942, 2419-2442)

That’s why I’ll occasionally talk about where we’ve been, what’s happening, and where we’re going. And suggest that wanting and giving respect make sense.

We won’t solve our problems overnight. Humanity has an enormous backlog of issues.

But I am sure that we can make our tomorrow something better than our today: and that we must try.

I’ve talked about this before:

• “Climate, Neighbors, Bogeymen and Responsibility“
  (November 5, 2022)
• “Independence Day: America and Acting Like Love Matters“
  (July 4, 2022)
• “Alabaster Cities, Fireworks, a Condo Disaster and Tears“
  (July 3, 2021)
• “Police, I-35W Bridge Collapse and All That“
  (February 5, 2021)
• “Death at the Capitol: ‘Something Isn’t Working’“
  (January 18, 2021)

¹ Freedom of expression, Yates v. United States:

• Wikipedia
  • Cancel culture
  • House Un-American Activities Committee
  • McCarthyism
  • Smith Act trials of Communist Party leaders
• Yates v. United States (1957)
  Richard Parker, First Amendment Encyclopedia, Middle Tennessee State University

² Air quality and the Dust Bowl:

• Wikipedia
  • Dust Bowl
  • Great Depression
  • Wall Street Crash of 1929
• Agricultural Depression, 1920-1934
  MNopedia
• 49c. The Farming Problem
  The New Deal, U.S. History (ushistory.org)
• “Canada Day fireworks cancelled over air quality fears“
  BBC News (July 1, 2023)