Yesterday I tendered the pondering of July 4th from a lefty icon.  Today those of a righty icon...

"Somewhere in our growing up we began to be aware of the meaning of days and
with that awareness came the birth of patriotism. July Fourth is the birthday
of our nation. I believed as a boy, and believe even more today, that it is
the birthday of the greatest nation on earth... In recent years, however,
I've come to think of that day as more than just the birthday of a nation. It
also commemorates the only true philosophical revolution in all history. Oh,
there have been revolutions before and since ours. But those revolutions
simply exchanged one set of rules for another. Ours was a revolution that
changed the very concept of government. Let the Fourth of July always be a
reminder that here in this land, for the first time, it was decided that man
is born with certain God-given rights; that government is only a convenience
created and managed by the people, with no powers of its own except those
voluntarily granted to it by the people. We sometimes forget that great
truth, and we never should. Happy Fourth of July." 
                                                                                          Ronald Reagan

courtesy The Patriot


Now truth be told I was never much of a Reagan fan. I was voting Libertarian back in those days and found him a little too big government for my liking.  But as I got older and started paying closer attention to his detractors, along with the realization that the 2 party system is both intractable and impermeable, I began to understand his appeal. 

To a point I can understand a concern with overzealous patriotism and nationalism because it can trump thoughtful debate.  On he other hand a country completely lacking patriotism is one not long for the world.  Hell one could plausibly argue it's the ONLY thing that has kept France together all these years.

In politics, as in life, it's all about balance and doing the best with what you've got.  Reagan was respectful of religion but was still a far far cry from a theocrat.  His attitude, not unlike the current occupant, is that the President has a solemn duty to do what's in the best interest of the Untied States.  Granted "American interests" is a wide ranging and completely open topic for heated debate. Thats the fun of politics after all.   

In the last two posts you have two vary different ideas on what this country is about.  On one hand we should celebrate, and be celebrated, as pioneers in self government while on the other the belief is we are no less evil than previous imperialist regimes. 

The weird thing is they both see America as central to the survival of mankind, but the right predicates it on the survival of the American experiment while the left on it's demise.  (I do not equate leftism with liberalism btw) 

How any historian can equate even the worst atrocity in all of American history to Stalinism is beyond me.  More than anything it is proof their arguments, thin on facts to begin with, without hyperbole, wouldn't be given the time of day. 

Even if we were to use the Zinn model of body counts only I have to believe that if an honest ledger was itemized showing all lives spent, versus all lives saved, due to Americas participation we would still be way into the black.  And that's just militarily.  If you factored in medical, agricultural, and technological advancements contributed by America it wouldn't even be close.       

I suppose it takes a hefty amount of intellectual contortion to deny Americas exceptionalism.  Probably about as much as it takes to equate George Bush with Adolph Hitler. 

Have nice holiday and God Bless America.