We have an inefective Congress and its not the first time...
150 years ago today, the United States was in two. Confederate and Union. We could say that our nation was divided, but that is incorrect. Two separate states existed with mal intent for each other. For a while, there was an internationally recognized Confederate States of America, whose existence was intertwined with slavery.
The goal of this exercise is to ignore the innate doctrinal wrongs of the federation and to focus on the effects of a divided nation, especially how it pertains to our modern governance.
Movements, as they are known, in the history of the United States are mostly originally considered to be 'grass roots'. The United States of America, even before its inception, exemplified its progressivism at the Boston Tea Party. Even at the onset of the Revolutionary War, the Colonials were no more than a present day National Guard Battalion. Up against the odds of the most powerful army in the world, they took the risk for what they believed.
Again, our fore-fathers exemplified their spirits of revolution and independence by signing and then ratifying the Declaration of Independence. In a short 8 year span, our 'fore-fathers' not only fought to found our great nation, but they also fought for the future of the world. Our fore-fathers were not all Americans. Many sought new lives in America, but to think that patriotism for our great nation was born overnight is naive. Our forefathers did not hold sacred the same values and American heritage that we do today. They didn't know America. They would have bittersweet thoughts about the world today.
Stepping off a ferry in New York City, any human being, especially an 18th century diplomat, would be awed by what human desire can accomplish. The New York City skyline is iconic and famous for its population, grand position in the Northeast, Wall Street, TV, etc. All of these things are great, but "The City" is an amalgamation of a million minds, not a coincidence of property and war. Any great fore-father would have trouble comprehending these large buildings. They wouldn't understand anything they came across really. The fact of the matter is that although we would like to present a fairy-tale rendering of our fore-fathers, they were mostly slave-wielding, under educated, backwoods, pioneers. Although essential to our existence and worthy of praise, their inight into our present situation is akin to the founder of basketball trying to teach Lebron James how to do things.
Please, lets begin understanding that the United States of America doesn't stand for one thing or another. We stand for what is right. And we always should. The solution to our problems is unclear, but there has never been a greater need for innovative thinkers and leaders.
