To all Americans: Happy Fourth of July!
Americans love our Independence Day celebration in summer’s glow, and we don’t lose sight of it’s meaning amidst the holiday fun. A giant waving American flag silhouetted by cracking fireworks and accompanied by favorite patriotic songs punctuate a genuine celebration of a great, unique, and wondrous nation.
Like America itself, our celebration is brash, bold, and colorful. There’s a touch of rebellion in the in-your-face young men and women playing to the camera crew during live coverage of the fireworks, but we know young faces like these have always responded to threats to the freedoms we celebrate today.
I’m here because my father was one of the fortunate ones who returned after four years as a World War II Marine pilot. With a face as youthful as those celebrating at picnics today, he flew his vibrating Corsair solo in the Pacific theater on countless missions, meticulously recorded in a small weathered notebook discovered decades later by his grandson.
And even as our young people go into harms way, America has no stronger critics than its own citizens. The fact is we have been raised with great pride in America’s promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all, and we are very reluctant to settle for less. Is American perfect? No. But it is the relentless pursuit of perfect delivery on this promise that makes this nation great.
Indeed the history of this country could be described as an uneven journey toward America’s full promise. It’s as if at every stage, bold and brash Americans have critically asked, “Are we ALL on board yet?” Because it’s not enough to guarantee equal rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to just some citizens. It must be to ALL to if we are to be different from any other nation, and if we are to ensure that we remain, as Lincoln described, “the last great hope of earth.”
Outsiders should not misinterpret our internal passionate discourse on public policy or the voices that challenge authorities to do better. Apathetic quiet would be a truer indication of a troubled America.
We become noisy when we sense that any part of our public policy is getting off track, especially where human rights are involved. And so, as just one example, we voice concern when DNA reveals that our criminal justice system is not as accurate as we once believed, and that many more innocent people are in prison than most Americans ever imagined. It’s no excuse to us that this is also true in other nations throughout the world. We expect to lead the way in improving the delivery of true justice here and everywhere.
When we learn that public policy has created an explosion in our prison population—that 2.3 million Americans, one out of every 99 adults, are in jail or prison, representing the largest prison population of any nation in the world both in pure numbers and per capita, we ask questions. We sense something is amiss, and we exercise our right to seek and advocate better policy.
When we realize that in the land of the free, one out of 34 adult Americans is under some form of government correctional supervision—and that a disproportionate number of these are persons of color, we feel compelled to find out what is going on. We question highly expensive public policy that denies a path to redemption and productivity even for those committing non-violent offenses that in many countries are considered the equivalent of misdemeanors or no crime at all.
As Americans have throughout our history, we boldly ask, “Are we ALL on board yet?”
We ask out of a deep love for our country. We ask because we always expect better of America. We ask because, as blood and tears are spilled by young American heroes even as we celebrate today, demanding better is the least we can do.
To all Americans, may you have a wonderful Fourth of July holiday with family and friends. On Monday, with God’s guidance, fellow patriots will be back at the job of asking questions of policy makers. I am grateful for those active on many different fronts, those who embrace the responsibility shared by all Americans: Diligence in preserving, protecting, and guaranteeing the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness for all. May God bless America.
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