American Renewal

“What lasts are the lessons whispered to us by those who have lived the types of lives we should all aspire to. What lasts is what men and women from our own history got right. We live in a time when we ignore their insights at our peril. Their whispered wisdom can only be discerned if we study them with care.” – Lessons in Liberty

Following the George Floyd protests in summer 2020, many statues of American founders were torn down due to misguided beliefs about racial injustice. This has caused a deep divide among Americans, leading to an unprecedented level of political polarization. Despite today’s remarkable economic wealth, a lack of understanding of history and a weakened sense of morality have distorted our view of the past and contributed to a decline in accountability. 

Unsurprisingly, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which measures student achievement, has consistently found that a mere 13 percent of 8th-graders are proficient in American History, that is, a sufficient comprehension and understanding of their country's history.  A dismal statistic that dates back as far as 1994. 

In Jeremy S. Adams’s 2024 book, “Lessons in Liberty”, Adams, a teacher of government and history, recounts the lives of ten extraordinary Americans as he seeks to rekindle the idea of greatness and reawaken a united pride in the American spirit of our founding.  Noting how the founders studied the lives of the Greeks and Romans, Adams, too, believed that by studying the best men and women, their lives, and their responses to adversity, could inspire to a new generation. 

Included in the essay are three of the American founders: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison.  Washington sought to embrace the ethics of self-help, an easy sell following America’s divorce from the monarchy of England.   Industriousness, hard work, and honesty were all necessary ingredients for successful self-governance.  Jefferson thought we should take religion seriously, whether we are a believer or not, because morality and virtues make for a better society.  Madison suggested that we should be prepared since there are no guaranteed outcomes in life.  He studied and worked hard so that when the time came, he was ready.  His efforts paid off, as Madison is now known as the Father of the Constitution. 

President Theodore Roosevelt made the cut by encouraging citizens never to stop moving and never to give up.   He showed how fiercely he believed in his mantra when he gave a speech after being hit by an assassin's bullet to the torso.  To him, to continue was a reflection of hope in the future and the belief that the solution to problems may be on the horizon. 

For American Red Cross founder, Clara Barton, she was compelled to an extraordinary life for the mere hope of being useful.  The originator of see something, say something, she believed that if you saw a problem, you yourself should be the solution.  She is also credited with providing medical support to soldiers on the front lines, saving lives and providing compassionate support for those who would not survive.  Like the good Samaritan, who crossed the road to help another, it is no one else’s problem to solve. 

Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a Colorado politician, proposed that instead of worrying about being the best, attempt only to be your best.  Since we all start at different starting points, have different challenges, and different lessons to learn, we must run our own race.  Life is a gift, and talent must be nurtured.  If we want to become our best, we must not be distracted by others. 

Today, there is too much protesting, when time would be better spent improving one's own life.  Since the human spirit needs to be productive and free, we risk robbing people of their agency when we remove incentives.  The choice is to let the tide take you and accept the path of least resistance, or take a chance and swim upstream, against the tide.  Too many are choosing victimhood.  Chronic catastrophism has made people miserable by promoting envy and negativity, leading to feelings of powerlessness. 

In a recent Gallup poll, only 58 percent of Americans are extremely or very proud of being Americans.  For Republicans, the sentiment remains high at 90 percent, for independents, pride in being American barely passes at 53 percent.  And for Democrats, the news is dismal, with a mere 36 percent feeling honored by their country.  For Gen Z, those in their teens through their twenties, pessimism is the greatest, with just 32 percent feeling pride in their citizenship.   With economic prosperity waning and politics growing more partisan, the results aren’t surprising. 

As we celebrate our nation’s independence from England and the beginning of our own unique country, we must remember the road to freedom and how we fought for our liberty.  Life doesn’t just happen to us; we must take an active role.  Hopefully, the patriotic stories of extraordinary Americans can light a fire for a new generation.  We each only get one life.