America Is Better Than This

We ought to be ashamed!  All of us, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents should be ashamed that we have allowed presidential politics to descend to such a lowly and despicable level.  We should be ashamed that we apparently accept the sordid state of political affairs without protest.  America deserves better.  America is better than this! 

        Great leaders lift people up and inspire ordinary citizens to accomplish extraordinary things by appealing to our best qualities.  Inspired leaders help us realize that we are part of something much greater than ourselves, that democracy depends on the altruistic contributions of each citizen as we serve and sacrifice for the greater good of liberty and justice for all. 

        When John Adams was asked to compose a written “Declaration of Independence,” he deferred to his younger colleague from Virginia, Thomas Jefferson.  Adams recognized that his writing style was “ponderous,” while Jefferson’s pen was “graceful and eloquent.”  He told Jefferson that while he (Adams) was “obnoxious, suspected, and unpopular, you are very much otherwise.”  And he added, “You can write ten times better than I.” 

        John Adams recognized that Americans needed rhetorical eloquence to lift them out of their petty squabbles, territorial posturing, and egocentric debates.  One must be elevated to the mountaintop to see the grand vision of liberty. Someone must touch the hearts of the people to empower them to dream great dreams.  Jefferson did this with his majestic and eloquent words, “When in the course of human events . . .”  “We hold these truths to be self-evident . . “   “We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”

        The grand vision of a free and independent union almost disintegrated with the American Civil War, but once again a noble and visionary leader galvanized our nation with words that would ring in the hearts of Americans for generations as he proclaimed that “Government of the people, by the people, and for the people should not perish from the face of the earth.”  Abraham Lincoln spoke words of reconciliation and grace to all Americans when shortly before his assassination he appealed:  “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds. . . .”

        Franklin Roosevelt lifted Americans from the despair of the depression with his words that riveted a nation, “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.”  John F. Kennedy inspired a young generation to selfless service with his words, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”  Ronald Reagan’s confident leadership inspired Americans to believe in the greatness of our country again.

        Where are the inspired leaders?  Where are the eloquent wordsmiths?  Where are the noble visionaries?  Rather than inspiring us to greatness of the mountaintop, today’s politicians want to pull us down to the gutter. They speak to the dark side of humanity, planting seeds of distrust and doubt in the hearts of Americans.  They speak of conspiracy rather than commitment: of fear, not faith; of hatred instead of honor.  They focus on tearing people down, not building people up.  They appeal to every negative and weak element of the human soul.  As a result of this character assassination on the American public, the great majority of citizens will go to the polls to vote against someone.  This is not the American dream.  This is an American nightmare.

        The Apostle Paul, a gifted wordsmith, said: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up.” In Colossians he exhorted us to put away all anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy talk.  In Proverbs we read: “Speaking recklessly cuts and maims, but the words of the wise bring healing.”

        I believe in the greatness of our nation.  There are noble and visionary leaders of integrity who will step forward.  My prayer is that all of us will live by the words of the Psalmist, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord.”