When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, those present were heard to shout "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit (of American Ideals). It certainly marked for me, anyway, the climax of an era.
What about this new era we're in now? Once again, the ideology wars rage. This time it isn't communism versus capitalism. No, it's something far less cerebral. I hesitate to call it 'The War on Terror.' Benjamin Barber calls it Jihad vs McWorld, which is about as flippant as Terror is sinister. What then do we call this new age? Clearly, not the Age of Aquarius. Frankly, I'm not sure where to peg these days but it would be something along the lines of 'the Suicide Bomber' faces off with the Flat Screeners.
All this is by way of saying the future (or even the present) is like mercury, hard to grasp.
Something that can be viewed with more certainty are the long reaches of the past.
In my audio documentary 'Those Self Evident Truths,' I trace the roots of democracy beginning with the Magna Carta (signed into law--1215) marching on to the American Declaration of Independence (1776), the Preamble to the Constitution (1783), and tying things up with Abraham’s Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (1863). How often do you get to breeze through some 650 years of humanity in 73 minutes?
While many may have at least 'heard' of the Magna Carta, listening to it makes it much more accessible than plodding though it line by line. I invite you to do so and as you do, try to imagine the conferences, the calumny, the leap of faith that led the nobles to challenge, uphold and validate the political office of 'king.' In time, their efforts led on to Parliament, a key element in ‘government by committee.’
Americans further refined this precept with Checks and Balances. America, founded in Revolution, tempered by Civil War, would not have happened but for the resolve, the commitment of our leaders. These 'Men of Goodwill,' were our first 'oppressed minority.'
You may well ask ‘Can the experience of nigh-on 800 years be condensed down to 73 minutes?’ Yes, I agree, it is a tall order. Why, it’s almost as tall as prompting an emerging nation to jump through 800 years of ‘hoops’ in one election cycle. But fear not. The learning curve has been flattened...By the Americans! Viva Nationbuilding!
By what authority should America promote nation-building worldwide? Who has made the charge "Make the world safe for democracy? (Wilson) The business of America is business; (Coolige) These slogans suggest the Nationbuilding mindset has been around a long time. Lately, we can ask 'what if the citzens of a nation see fit to preempt the American agenda? Sounds like a great recipe for a more educated populace. As Jefferson said when he learned the Constitution of 1787 was good to go: "Whenever the People are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government.
