Uno + Pluribus = Unum

These days leading up to our 234th celebration of fried chicken and firecrackers are troubled ones for Americans, to put it mildly. Oil still flows from all the wrong places. Those who govern us govern us more restrictively due, in part, to some of our ungoverned excesses (or maybe it’s just “ants” and their ungoverned appetites). Housing and employment both have sucking wounds, just as the incentives and unemployment insurance run out. The recession not only lingers, it may be deepening into a re-recession. Insubordination and backbiting characterize our “team” fighting a war on our behalf. Right and left may actually be marking the 4th for different reasons this Sunday. According to either side’s view of the other, that seems to be the case.

Sheesh! Happy Flippin’ Independence Day to me!

I’d rather be waving the flag and drinking a beer and celebrating this weekend than blogging out this crabby post. So I will make this brief.

Independence is only half the story. If “pursuit of happiness” is our national quest, we’ll only succeed in it by adding InTERdependence to the pursuit.

UNO: Latin for “one” as is the integer “1.” Our most basic right is independence. Who doesn’t like the power in that idea? To me, independence is a right comprised of two intertwined components. First, it means autonomy: You and I are not subject to the rulings of any potentate, prince, parent, or priest for the content and direction of our lives. Those are our individual choices, for better or for worse. Second, independence means liberty: freedom to think, say, and do whatever you and I feel is right.

Now, independence, like any right, can be abused by taking its power to extremes. Wisdom lies in knowing how to harness the power of our rights by recognizing the inherent responsibilities within their free exercise. It’s true that I, the individual, and you, are free to make our own choices. Thus we must summon the COURAGE to accept responsibility for our choices. That requires us to rise above dependence on others, and to prepare ourselves to make wise choices. Our choices have consequences. And we are only at liberty to think, say, and do whatever we want so long as we do no harm to others. Thus we must recognize our interdependence on, with, and for others.

PLURIBUS: Latin for “From many.”  In a democracy, we are connected to each other from birth in a way that transcends the normal connections humans have who live under other forms of government. We have the responsibility to each other collectively to perform the acts of citizenship that are not required of people living under princes and priests. How?  We must be educated to think. We must choose to be informed. We must decide who will lead us. We must agree to listen to each other. Then we must support our leaders when we can, and oppose their policies responsibly when we disagree with them. These are the requirements of HUMILITY of interdependence in a democracy.

Like anything, inTERdependence can be abused and distorted by over-using the strength contained within the ideal.  Allowing ourselves to be controlled as anonymous cogs in a bland and threatening collective is no less a tyranny than any other. We must never willingly surrender our freedom to anyone, individual leader or collective.

UNUM: Latin for “one” as in “United.”  All of us are in this together, like it or not. We can choose to unite behind a vision of the common good and work together to solve problems, or we can continue to fragment into warring factions and expect a common enemy to take us out. History is clear and unyielding on this point. Choosing unity in a democracy is not solely a leadership responsibility; it’s as much a question of whether we the people choose to be responsible followers.

Our liberty is another paradox of the word “AND.” We are not simply “UNO” or “PLURIBUS” but both. Independent and interdependent. Free and brave, possessing a spirit of humility and courage.

So this is not intended to be a political screed to dampen anyone’s Independence Day festivities. It’s instead a call for each of us as individuals to take effective steps to build a more perfect union. Here’s how: Let’s pursue happiness! My prescription for that is this:

First, recognizing that we are “UNO”–unique individuals–we must seize the freedom others have bought for us at such a price. We must accept responsibility to live life to our full potential through the active exercise of our innate talents.  Let’s commit to have our uniqueness shine out in excellence. Second, we are “PLURIBUS”–in this together. The best kind of happiness, joy, comes from using our gifts to serve others. Let’s reach out to those who need our help and galdly give it. If we had a much zeal to serve each other as we do to argue our politics with each other, we’d quickly become “UNUM.”

Can we do it? Rather than say “Yes we can,” I’ll just say “Sure we can!”

Happy 4th. Be safe. Give and take care.