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America was never great, but we had our moments. Now is not one of them.
One of our earliest significant moments occurred when the Founding Fathers adopted the Declaration of Independence, followed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. However, these foundational moments were diminished by the exclusion of certain populations from the rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
The Bill of Rights’ addition to the Constitution represented a promise made and kept by those who followed, including politicians, judges, and members of Congress. This enshrined into law the rights of worship, freedom of speech, and peaceful protest. Yet even this moment was overshadowed by the continuing scourge of enslavement and the conquest of stolen lands.
We experienced a significant moment when enough citizens decided to end enslavement, fighting a Civil War to achieve this. Tragically, this progress was undermined by Jim Crow laws and segregation, which restricted freedom.
Another moment of profound insight was the decision to place Emma Lazarus’s “The New Colossus” plaque on the Statue of Liberty, with its powerful welcome to immigrants: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
Truthfully, we’ve had moments of genuine greatness, demonstrating a persistent drive to achieve the ideals we proclaimed early in our history. We have come to value Martin Luther King Jr. and his relentless pursuit of equality for all.
We’ve also had moments when we joined a world at war to secure a safe future, not just for ourselves but for the rest of the planet. Furthermore, signing on to the League of Nations and later the United Nations were crucial steps toward a better global future.
A notable moment of compassion was when Colin Powell persuaded George W. Bush to allocate $18 billion to combat AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean.
Domestically, we’ve had moments of progress: child labor was outlawed and labor unions became a vital feature of American industrial life, providing opportunities for fair wages for honest work.
The Current State
However, with wealth increasingly concentrated among the few—where the top 1% holds more wealth and power than the bottom 60%—this is not one of our great moments. The current administration, despite its rhetoric, demonstrates that America is not great, no matter how often it’s chanted or appears on merchandise.
A criminal in the White House does not make America great, nor does an incompetent administration. Instead, it portrays to the world a circus camped on the White House grounds, with the biggest clown atop it all. While we once showed kindness and empathy to suffering populations affected by earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods, offering aid and relief, we have now abandoned those efforts.
A Path to Greatness
If we truly aspire to greatness, there are concrete steps we can take:
Combat Hate Speech: We can actively shut down hate speech and the bitter language of grievance and grudge.
Embrace Religious Freedom: As Christians who are confident in our faith, we can practice our faith openly while ensuring every person can worship freely, reveling in their own faith and freedom.
End Discrimination: We must demand an end to all forms of discrimination, regardless of origin. The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness should be a universal standard within our borders, with no exemptions, excuses or acceptable reasons for discrimination.
Accountable Wealth: While wealth accumulation can be encouraged, it must be coupled with public accountability and an expectation of generosity.
Fair Taxation: Taxes must be fair and equitable for all.
Equal Justice: We can demand equal justice under the law, ensuring that everyone within our borders is treated equally.
Robust Mental Health Services: We can provide comprehensive mental health services for all communities.
Humane Incarceration: Incarcerated individuals should be treated as human beings, regardless of their crimes.
Rethink Capital Punishment: Capital punishment should be an exception, not a feature of our society—used only after every attempt has been made to ensure guilt. We must not execute the mentally ill or cognitively impaired.
A Nation of Neighbors: We can become a nation of neighbors, offering every child a safe place to live, grow up, and pursue the education that fuels their dreams.
Value Education: We must return to recognizing and rewarding teachers as a national treasure.
Justice-Focused Law Enforcement: Law enforcement must never be weaponized, serving only the ends of justice.
Support First Responders: First responders should be honored and supported.
Accountable Politicians: Politicians must be held to a high standard of integrity, honesty, and promise-keeping.
Equal Voting Power: Every vote must count equally.
These aspirations could set us on a pathway to greatness, but they are only a beginning.
About the AuthorLatest Posts
A private practice counselor working with veterans and survivors of trauma. Previously, Chancellor served four churches in Texas for 33 years, then ran a Mental Health Department of Alan B. Polunsky Maximum Security prison which houses death row.