Tuesday, September 23, 2008

The "Grand Experiment" Gone Awry?



"Just get up off the ground, that's all I ask. Get up there with that lady that's up on top of this Capitol dome, that lady that stands for liberty. Take a look at this country through her eyes if you really want to see something. And you won't just see scenery; you'll see the whole parade of what Man's carved out for himself, after centuries of fighting. Fighting for something better than just jungle law, fighting so he can stand on his own two feet, free and decent, like he was created, no matter what his race, color, or creed. That's what you'd see. There's no place out there for graft, or greed, or lies, or compromise with human liberties ... I wouldn't give you two cents for all your fancy rules if, behind them, they didn't have a little bit of plain, ordinary, everyday kindness and a little looking out for the other fella, too."


In these times it seems that we need to treasure what a great, crazy, creative and innovative undertaking the American Experiment is in its essence. And even the greatest ideas can go astray if we are not vigilant in the daily application of the principles we profess to hold dear. We need to remember that with freedom comes responsibility -- and it isn't just some other guy's responsibility. We must be mindful too, that "free market" isn't a "free-for-all", where the greedy grab and the regular guy perishes. Our "noble experiment" for the ages is not meant to be institutionalized Social Darwinism where only the fittest and privileged thrive. "E Plurbus Unum" -- meaning, "Out of many, One", is our national motto. It appears on the the seal of the United States and on the Seal of the President.


Jefferson Smith, of Frank Capra's classic, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", puts it rather eloquently, don't you think? Out of many One -- "we're all in this together". Like every creative endeavor, the American Dream is collaborative --ours together to work for and share ... and it takes "a little bit of plain, ordinary, everyday kindness and a little looking out for the other fella, too." Competing makes us better. Cooperation makes us whole.



DJS