Thoughts on the Road
I’m not sure if it’s the books I’m reading, the places I walk, or just the approach of July the Fourth that has sparked thoughts on Independence Day. These are my reflections, in no particular order and perhaps won’t make much sense to anyone but me.
I’m surprised at how much I don’t know about the founding of this country I call home. I’m working to better understand the flame kindled 243 years ago that has become the United States of America.
Flags and Fireworks
The holiday has come to mean many different things. Flags, family, picnics and fireworks to name just a few. I wonder how many look beyond the pleasant pageantry and personal celebrations that reflect the unique freedom and privilege we have as Americans.
Seeing the flag waving behind the passing Jeep prompted a little thrill, it’s brilliant colors leaping from the green, humid morning. I’m glad I had the presence of mind to swing the camera around for a picture before it disappeared down the road.
Etched in Stone
Freedoms that began as theory in 1776 but have been purchased over and over again with blood. That our country persists today is a testament to its structure of checks and balances as much as it does the men and women who have labored to live up to the ideals imagined in the Declaration of Independence.
Winding Roads
History is a winding road, plastic, and subject to continual and changing interpretation and re-evaluation. I feel it’s my responsibility as a citizen to understand some small part of American history. A small price for freedom.
Thomas Jefferson enshrined our core beliefs in the Declaration of Independence with this profound statement: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” But the great defect in the revolutionary discussions by our founding fathers of voting, representation and equality was slavery.
Paying for Freedom
Neither Jefferson or his colleagues were willing to risk the unification of all the colonies by trying to deal with slavery. That was left aside for 80 years and Abraham Lincoln.
I’m reading Empire of Liberty by Gordon S. Woods. In that book he reflects on the contradictions in Jefferson who at one point owned 600 slaves. “It is surely the greatest irony of American history that this slave-holding aristocrat should be America’s supreme spokesman for liberty, equailty, and democracy.”
The ideals in the Declaration of Independence simmered, something undone but coming to a boil. While running for the United States Senate Lincoln said these words during a speech that foreshadowed something terrible over the horizon.
“A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.”
Markers Along the Road
It’s not uncommon here to find graves of men who served in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and the Civil War. Overlooked reminders of the ongoing payments made for independence.
My own perceptions of history have changed over time, from the simplistic outline presented in high school History class to an appreciation of the incredibly complex machinations of practically everything American.
Everything.
Someone here recently suggested I read Tony Horowitz’s book Confederates in the Attic. It’s an eye-opening work that explores the effect the Civil War had on the South from the end of the war until today. I better understand the meaning of independence, and how others may see things differently. If you have any interest in the aftershocks of the Civil War its worth reading.
Keeping Things Simple
On the road I try and strip away the noise and chaos of living for a short time while I ride. Just me, the scooter and my mind and senses. But simplicity isn’t always the answer and certainly not where history, politics and other issues of government are concerned.
I heard a talk radio host playing 10 second soundbites to highlight the positions of candidates for President. Ten seconds. The points he was making are unimportant right now. The fact that he felt ten seconds is sufficient to explain anyone about anything is.
It’s the same everywhere in the digital media. Attention spans so short that 10 second sound bites strung together into a 45 second package is how we get the news. On CNN, MSNBC, FoxNEWs and pretty much everywhere. Unless you use Twitter which gets you down to 140 characters.
I wonder how simplification of people, ideas and points of view will affect our freedom and independence as we move into the future.
I celebrate Independence Day quietly and try to be grateful for what I have. That I live in a country where I can while away the day riding a Vespa scooter, write essays about whatever might strike an interest, have plenty to eat and a roof over my head. I celebrate the fact that I can make choices. And respect that my neighbor can as well.
So as I ride and think about these things leading up to Independence Day, what’s important to me is that there is much to learn about the past, and even more work to consider how it might inform today.
When I was young I knew everything. Now as I wander toward the twilight years I realize I don’t know much at all.
And those are my thoughts on Independence Day.
If you’re interested in some fine reading on American History consider these books:
JILL LEPORE – These Truths: A History of the United States
TONY HOROWITZ – Confederates in the Attic
GORDON S. WOOD – The Idea of America: Reflections on the Birth of The United States
Have a Happy 4th. I like your idea of simple and quiet.
You too Robert. The heat and humidity make simple and quiet pretty easy!
Wonderfully written as always Steve and of course the empty, winding roads I do not have. Like you, I have a roof over my head and I won’t miss a meal today. My silent thanks to countless who made the ultimate sacrifice so that I may lead a life of simple pleasures.
Empty, winding roads are something I’m grateful to have at hand. A benefit from ending up where I have. Wasn’t planned. Just dumb luck.
Hope you have a fine day.
That, sir, was a beautifully done piece from pictures to paragraphs. Thank you seems in order, but not quite enough.
Happy 4th from “fly over” country.
FredG.
When looking at a map of the “fly over” parts of the country I realize Pennsylvania falls mostly within it, save for Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and the county I live in at the center of the Commonwealth.
Hope you have a fine 4th of July!
Loved reading this Steve, so thank you. I celebrate independence today and right along with it, I also celebrate dependence on our Creator you mentioned, just to help me make sense of it all. Without Him living inside of us, the complexity of it all is just too overwhelming and in Him is where our peace truly resides. I am most grateful for all those who fought and those who continue to fight for our independence and freedom, especially the freedom to worship and serve a God who is so good ALL the time, even when things are very challenging (bad) and where He does His best work.
Thank you for sharing your kind words. Celebrating independence and freedom is easy to take for granted. And in our pluralistic country ideas of where those things originate vary widely. A grand achievement for the United States, the First Amendment, guarantees each of us the freedom to believe and practice (or not believe or practice) any religion we desire without Government interference. The Founding Fathers as well varied in their religious beliefs and practices which helped them distance the state from the church. And many of their ideas in establishing the Declaration and the Constitution were derived from many sources from the Ancient Greeks and Romans through Judaism, Islam and Christianity. We’ve benefited greatly from the rigorous intellect and wisdom of those early American thinkers.
Hope you have a fine holiday and find peace today.
“It is surely the greatest irony of American history that this slave-holding aristocrat should be America’s supreme spokesman for liberty, equailty, and democracy.” Also include: women (of any ethnicity but especially non-white), men of any other ethnicity other than Caucasian or from western Europe.
A guy in our church is a supreme Civil War “buff”. I’ve been on two of his group trips to Gettysburg. The last one (a couple months ago) highlighted the impacts on the civilians in and around Gettysburg during and after the battle. Quite amazing bit of history that I was never taught. See: Jenny Wade, Elizabeth Masser Thorn, Bliss farm, Brian farm, Codori farm. Most of the locals tried to petition the government for reparations for all the damage and work to bury dead horses and men but the government refused most all claims as having been perpetrated by the Confederates.
Things were imperfect, that’s for sure. And the problems persist today. Better but still work to do.
I’ve been to Gettysburg a half-dozen times for various reasons but not to consider the plight of the surrounding community. The impact on Gettysburg pales in comparison the the actions of Sherman in Georgia and South Carolina. Collateral damage versus intentional destruction. The more I learn about the Civil War the more horrifying it all is. Let’s hope we never forget.
Happy Independence Day Steve!
I recently tried an e-book called “A Renegade History of the United States”, slavery was of course part of the book but the concepts brought up were different from your run of the mill views…..it was interesting/troubling and thought provoking….
Your point re the majority of Americans having very short attention spans and unwillingness to research the issues is on point. Instead, its become a dependence on social media/biased media echo chambers…sad.
As to being an independent nation, I’ve my doubts…..seems most people don’t care, as long as they get their daily dose of “bread and circuses”.
There’s a lot of interesting, troubling and thought provoking aspects of US history. Could spend a lifetime studying and still only have a limited understanding.
I use social media less and less for information. Or for much of anything really. More and more I’m reading books and going to the library.
Are we an independent nation? Interdependent. And when I think of freedom it all depends on what you mean by freedom. I do believe that as individuals, unless we’re vigilant and pay attention, we’ll be heavily manipulated by the barrage of information poured on us by business, government and individuals. They’ll be trying to take our time, money, attention, votes, and minds — all in an effort to keep us “fat and happy” and not asking any difficult questions of those in power. Bread and circuses indeed.
Geez. I’m turning into an old codger wailing about the government…
Hi Steve…..Your reference to what you know and don’t know stirred a memory. Years ago I worked with this
old timer (probably the age I am now) who would say “the more you know…….the more you know you don’t know.”
How true….take care.
NJSteve
I understand. The limits of knowledge become blazingly clear when you begin to learn a little about a topic.
Correction Steve on my post…………….that was supposed to be “the more you know….the more you
know how little you know”….sorry, NJSteve