Happy Birthday, America

[poliphilo]

Sometimes it can be comforting to look back. 

There was Senator Joe McCarthy- that was a shameful period of American history- with the US polity mirroring that of Stalin's Russia in staging show trials of intellectuals- but McCarthy got run out of town eventually.

And then there was Vietnam. 

And Watergate.

There's nothing the Bush administration has done- waging disastrous imperial wars,  corrupting the political life of the Republic- that hasn't been done before- and worse. America has these massive mood swings- and when she turns nasty the rest of the world cowers- but she always pulls herself right in the end.

I'm not an American, I'm not even particularly Americanophile, but I believe as a sober matter of fact that the USA is the single best political idea we (meaning human beings) have ever had. A Republic based on the values of the Enlightenment- how cool is that!

Of course America has done horrible things- which nation hasn't?- but she remains- because of the vision of her founding fathers-  "the last best hope of earth". 

That's a quote from Abraham Lincoln- the nearest the dirty profession of politics has ever come to producing a saint.

So, happy birthday, America,

You'll get over these recent set-backs-

Of course you will.

Comments

Well...

[jubal51394.livejournal.com]

It's only 7AM here in the old U.S. of A... and I was just beginning to contemplate what I would say today. One needs to say something on a day like this one but I'm a bit of a rebel and never a "flag waver", perish the thought.

And you have just said exactly what I would have said after several hours of deliberation... though probably not quite as well.

So... thank you dear Tony for making my day. I will now shamelessly reprint every single word in my own journal... crediting my wise old friend in the UK, of course. Thank you so much!

Re: Well...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome.

And I'm honoured.:)