The American Identity: Celebrating Liberty and Cultural Inheritance
Is it wrong for the overwhelming majority of Americans to be celebrating July 4th or cherishing the US Constitution and Founding Fathers when their ancestors never even fought in the Revolution? This question often surfaces, especially in discussions around cultural and historical heritage. However, this viewpoint is rooted in a misunderstanding of what it means to be an American and the essence of national pride.
Is Cultural Inheritance Necessary for Celebration?
It is a valid inquiry: why do we celebrate holidays and events for which our ancestors did not directly participate? For instance, do we celebrate Christmas because our medieval forebears were present in Bethlehem during the birth of Christ? Or, why do immigrants in France celebrate Bastille Day, even though their ancestors were not there when that historical event occurred? The answer lies in the cultural and historical nuances that shape our national identity.
Just as we celebrate Christmas to honor a significant religious and cultural tradition, Americans celebrate Independence Day to uphold values and ideals that have been pivotal in shaping our nation. Our celebration centers around the principles of freedom, democracy, and equality as enshrined in our foundational documents like the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. These values transcend direct ancestral participation, making them universally relevant and worth celebrating.
National Identity and Ideals
Being an American is not solely about bloodlines or ancestry; it is about adhering to a set of ideals and principles. This is illustrated in the example of immigrants in France who celebrate Bastille Day. These individuals may not have European heritage, yet they share in the celebration of the idea of freedom and equality that Bastille Day represents. Similarly, why do immigrants whose families arrived in the 1920s root for the Mexican national soccer team? The answer lies in cultural absorption and the embracing of a new national identity through shared values and traditions.
It is our national Independence Day. We all celebrate because it's our day. We celebrate the reasons we won independence—the efforts given, the courage demonstrated, and the love that united us. The essence of American identity lies in these ideals, which were enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution.
Understanding the Revolution and Its Legacies
To even ask the question that way is to fail to understand what America, or rather the USA, is all about. Traditionally, in countries like Japan or typical European countries, citizenship is determined by bloodline—ancestry going back generations. But in America, citizenship is about embracing a set of core democratic values and ideals, such as representative democracy, freedom of expression, and the right to a different point of view. Being an American is about believing in these principles and upholding them in our society.
While the American Revolution is steeped in myth and historical exaggeration, it brought about lasting values such as the Bill of Rights. The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were revolutionary in declaring that there would be no established religion, no hereditary privilege, and no purely hereditary status. These ideas pave the way for a more inclusive society, where all citizens are treated as equals.
Conclusion
Our celebration of holidays like Independence Day is not just about heritage but about the ideals and values that have shaped our nation. It is our duty to keep the flame of freedom alive, especially in the face of threats such as the Woke virus. By celebrating these foundational documents and values, we honor the efforts of those who came before us and continue to uphold the legacy they established. Our national identity is not about bloodlines, but about embracing freedom, democracy, and equality.