tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post4286203114566878932..comments2023-09-11T08:58:24.710-06:00Comments on Reach Upward: Our Republic LivesScott Hinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831447472339880148noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post-53470096491848319532007-01-09T19:51:00.000-07:002007-01-09T19:51:00.000-07:00DL, I think you are correct that we need to regain...DL, I think you are correct that we need to regain our heritage in many areas, including democracy and individual freedom.<br /><br />However, I do not believe we have a particularly strong history of equality of opportunity. The beginning of the Republic introduced a concept that was totally new for most of the Western world: that nobody was naturally better than anyone else. It denied aristocracy and primogeniture, which had been common throughout the Western world (and most of the rest of the world) up to that point. If that's what you mean by our history of equality of opportunity, you have a good point.<br /><br />But the U.S. has always been a meritocracy. And it took a war and a century of Jim Crowe before we generally disavowed racial superiority. There was nothing honorable about denying entire groups of people equality of opportunity. That's not a history to which we want to return.Scott Hinrichshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11831447472339880148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post-120729662174296412007-01-05T20:27:00.000-07:002007-01-05T20:27:00.000-07:00I don't think the US is particularly unique in reg...I don't think the US is particularly unique in regard to "working well". We certainly were unique earlier in our history and we have much to be proud of, but now we are being overtaken in many areas by other nations. We need to regain the lead in democracy, freedom of expression, human rights, and equal opportunity that we once proudly enjoyed.Charles Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02975241234146573609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post-12736849494162476302007-01-05T14:06:00.000-07:002007-01-05T14:06:00.000-07:00DL, I have to agree with TOG. It ain't perfect, b...DL, I have to agree with TOG. It ain't perfect, but it works. I don't see any other major nation on the face of this planet that works as well. That doesn't mean we should overlook problems. Surely each of us should work within the realm of our capabilities to correct the problems that do exist in our society.Scott Hinrichshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11831447472339880148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post-58462738752124799822007-01-05T12:06:00.000-07:002007-01-05T12:06:00.000-07:00I think it's more likely that the American people ...<i>I think it's more likely that the American people don't really care about Ford and many hardly remember him<br /></i><br /><br />A ray of sunshine, DL, as always. :)Cameronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06016275707476655364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post-49680236337488075372007-01-05T09:57:00.000-07:002007-01-05T09:57:00.000-07:00I think it's more likely that the American people ...I think it's more likely that the American people don't really care about Ford and many hardly remember him. The media saw an opportunity to milk this event for ratings and give us a patriotic show designed to engender exactly the sentiment you have expressed.<br /><br />If our nation was a strong and healthy as you suggest, we would have long ago removed and replaced our current President whose high crimes and misdemeanors far outstrip those of Richard Nixon. Perhaps if we had spent more time delving into the unconstitutional acts of Nixon, we would have less tolerance for the far more unconstitutional acts of Bush.<br /><br />Ford certainly deserved our thanks for his service, but we need to reflect on why we have failed to learn the lessons of Watergate and failed to learn the lessons of Vietnam. The TV networks with their infotainment presentation of national issues are partially responsible.Charles Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02975241234146573609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post-26717105786416080982007-01-04T17:34:00.000-07:002007-01-04T17:34:00.000-07:00"...celebrating was the fact that our republic rea..."...celebrating was the fact that our republic really does work."<br /><br />Nice essay, Reach.<br /><br />It's not perfect, but it works, generally.<br /><br />:)That One Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02733838946095632239noreply@blogger.com