[CultureGeek]

Reposted (well, not exactly, because this is more of a riff on it at this point, but it is kind of repetetive) because I noticed after the fact that the thread in which I posted the original version of this was titled the exact opposite of what I was saying. I tried to cut out everything but the middle para, as it didn't exactly fit, but I can't edit. If an admin wants to do that, by all means. Only the bit about Voltaire (and the footnote, which I think is funny---but I'm kinda giddy right now, so YMMV) is really relevant to that thread.

Anyway, another really long thread, but I'm basically gushing about America, so it's definitely relevant to the forum.

I am so very proud of America right now. And this isn't about politics. You guys probably know my politics, but politics aren't the point here. It's not about how people voted, it's about how many people voted. I'm just blown away because of the level of patriotism and participation in our democracy that we have right now. I mean, people who had just completely given up on our country are really involved, and that involvement didn't end at election day, which surprised me as much as anyone, and I was one of the people out there getting people to get involved. Whether or not you like the results of our last election, the turnout we had, and the continued high level of civic engagement, should warm the heart of any patriotic American.

And another thing: whether or not you like the new President's policies, the fact that we elected someone of African descent to that office for the first time ever is a good sign. It is not an end in itself, but the fact that it happened naturally, and not as an end in itself but because more people thought he'd do a good job, is a sign that we are still moving towards that ideal of liberty and justice for all.

And I've been thinking about American history, and this is what I've come up with: When this nation was first founded, a lot of people were left out of our democracy, a lot of people's rights were ignored, because of the limitations of the time. The Enlightenment was a remarkable time, but it was only the beginning of our journey. Fortunately, the Framers knew that and so, when they established our government, provided mechanisms for its continued improvement.

This has allowed those who have been left out to ask us, to make us ask ourselves, "Do we really mean it? Do we really mean that all people are created equal? Do we really mean that those rights are inalienable?" And they keep asking, and we keep asking, until we finally say yes. And then another group that previous generations didn't really even see, or whose rights they didn't really see, does the same, and another set of prejudices dies. And the point is that, in the end, we always say "yes." We say "yes" to the ideals on which this country was founded, "yes" to letting people vote, "yes" to liberty, "yes" to justice, when we say "yes, it applies to these people."

And America keeps moving forward, and the things that the Framers believed about this country are truer with each generation. And that is just a wonderful thing.

There is still work ahead of us, and we owe it to our country to acknowledge that and keep improving things. And the really amazing thing is that it was designed for us to do just that. That at a time when people were unable to fully realize the ideals, and maybe couldn't even imagine how to, they recognized that and they passed on this great work to us, because they recognized that we would see further than they, even as we recognize the giant shoulders on which we stand to see it. The Constitution is a pearl without price and a sacred trust, but it is also a great work, in which the Framers have enlisted us all. And that is truly amazing.

Gods bless America!