{"id":7124,"date":"2023-07-04T00:01:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-04T00:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/?p=7124"},"modified":"2024-09-11T23:12:50","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T23:12:50","slug":"independence-day-freedom-citizenship-and-looking-ahead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/independence-day-freedom-citizenship-and-looking-ahead\/","title":{"rendered":"Independence Day: Freedom, Citizenship and Looking Ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Flag<\/a>I like being an American.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There. I’ve said it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I like living in a country where freedom of speech is part of our heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And where freedom of expression extends even to folks whose ideas aren’t approved by The Establishment’s current iteration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Freedom of Expression, Even for ‘Them’<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\"C.<\/a>I was born during the Truman administration, so my teens and the 1960s overlap almost perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back then, denouncing communist plots, rock music and the Catholic Church were all the rage among ‘real Americans’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emphasis on “rage”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

And even America’s highest court had exhibited “un-American” tendencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time passed. Slogans like “communist menace” and “national security” gave way to “tolerance” and “diversity”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Good Times, Bad Times, and Occasional Flashes of Brilliance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"John<\/a>
John Trumbull’s “Declaration of Independence.” (1819)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, on the whole, I think we’ve done okay. We’ve even \u2014 as individuals, unofficial associations and the occasional government entity or official \u2014 had the occasional flashes of brilliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like deciding that having officially-unsanctioned beliefs is not<\/strong> a criminal offense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a country, we’ve had ups and downs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\"Charles<\/a>The 1920s, for many folks, were good times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For farmers, not so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Partly because government actions that looked good during WWI had unintended consequences, partly because the weather hadn’t been ideal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But we’re still here. I see that as a good thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2014 won’t last forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Another Drought, and Reasonable Hope<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Minnesota<\/a>
Minnesota drought conditions. (June 27, 2023)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\"Minnesota<\/a>This year’s drought isn’t, so far, as bad as the one two years back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s good news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s happening to crops in my part of the world \u2014 could be better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it could be worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think there’s a reasonable hope that we \u2014 and America \u2014 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Being a Good Citizen Still Matters<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Nighttime<\/a>
“Dawn of a New Day” \u2014 “the world of tomorrow”. The 1939-1940 World’s Fair.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

America, and the world, has changed a great deal over the last century. Much of that change has happened since my youth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some changes have been for the better, some haven’t. Responsibilities that come with being a citizen? Those haven’t changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The details, what I do and how I do it, would vary with time and place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Different cultures provide and allow different kinds of participation. That’s okay. (Catechism, 1915)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I talked about freedom of expression earlier. That’s important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So is religious freedom: being allowed to believe and act as if those beliefs matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Catholic, I must support religious freedom \u2014 for everybody. (Catechism, 2104-2109)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

<\/a>Justice, Charity, Respect: They’re Worth Trying<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\"Brian<\/a>I’m just some guy living in central Minnesota, so changing the course of world history isn’t a reasonable goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We won’t solve our problems overnight. Humanity has an enormous backlog of issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I am sure that we can make our tomorrow something better than our today: and that we must try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve talked about this before:<\/p>\n\n\n\n