As we celebrate the Fourth of July this weekend, I am concerned that we as Americans are segregating ourselves by which of two views of our history we want to believe, neither of which is entirely truthful.
On one side, we have the view, presented by many conservatives, of American exceptionalism — the idea of America as a basically righteous, freedom-promoting institution with a proud tradition of individualism and sacrifice. On the other extreme of this debate, we see the view taken by Nikole Hannah-Jones of the 1619 Project and many other progressives, which is that America is fundamentally flawed at its roots — that our history is one of oppression, racism and inequality, and that there is little of value in “American” culture.
I believe that both of these approaches are disastrously wrong. We do not live in the “shining city on a hill” that our Puritan forebears envisioned. Too much of our history has been tainted by inhumanity and injustice. However, it is necessary to acknowledge that the only reason I am free enough today to write these words — the only reason protesters today can take to the streets to demand justice and equality — is that deeply flawed people, who were nonetheless intelligent and insightful, founded this nation in such a way that it has begun to outgrow those old tendencies. We have a long way to go, but the only reason we can make any progress at all is because the American way of life, imperfect though it may be, exists at all.
Jonathon Floyd
Morgan