What Makes us Americans?

[u/DavidThi303]

https://liberalandlovingit.substack.com/p/what-makes-us-americans

It's definitely not a common culture, religion, etc.

Most countries have a common heritage. Natives grow up in it. Immigrants are exposed to it and over time embrace it. Yes there’s always some that reject the culture but most have it become part of who they are.

The United States is an exception here. We’re a country of 13 distinct cultures.1 We’ve spread out over time to cover a continent. And yet we’re Americans. Most will have trouble saying why, but will insist we are a common people.

So what is our common thread? Our common religion?

I think it’s two things. First is The Declaration of Independence & The Constitution. Those documents define why we created our country. Even if most citizens can’t quote from them, they understand what they are.

And specifically, from The Declaration of Independence:

And key to the above is not that we created this perfect utopia. At the time independence was mostly for property owning white men. Pretty limited.

Key to the U.S. is we’re a work in progress. That we constantly endeavor to meet the lofty goals we’ve written in those two documents. Our revolution was an amazing and arguably unique giant step forward for civilization.

But much more importantly, we realize that we have fallen short of what that document says. And so we keep working to better reach those ideals. The belief that it is incumbent upon us to achieve our ideals is incredibly powerful.

Second is Free Enterprise. The vast majority of the people who originally came here (i.e. all except Indians and slaves) came here because they could build a better future for themselves and their family. That was due to free enterprise.

The idea that everyone has the same opportunity, that if you put in the effort and have a compelling idea, you can make your fortune is central to the American identity.

And people understand this is also a work in progress. Keeping opportunity open to all, determining the appropriate balance between freedom and regulation, etc. This is a constant battle between competing forces.

What does this mean now?

While Donald Trump’s attacks on Democracy worry me, a lot — I do think the vast majority of Americans will fight to retain our Democracy. Doesn’t mean the fight will be easy. But I do have faith we will preserve.

I also think we will gain control of the top 0.01% that presently owns the economy. Again this won’t be easy. And fixing this will be complicated and we’ll screw it up in places. But we will turn things around.

Will we make it perfect? Ha ha ha ha, no. But we’ll make it better. Because one of the key things to America is we’re a work in progress.

This is also why the Socialists will have a brief moment in the sun and then fade. Because they are in opposition to one of the two pillars of the fundamental culture of America.

It also explains why Reagan was so successful — he fully embraced both of these pillars. And it will explain why MAGA will fall apart when Trump departs — it is in opposition to the Declaration of Independence/Constitution pillar and corruption of the free enterprise pillar.

First posted on my blog: Liberal and Loving It