“Sometime during all of the fireworks, I hope Americans can remember the Declaration of Independence, but also the historical principles it represents.”
With another patriotic holiday coming up, there will be the usual social media reminders that the 4th is not just a chance to party in Vegas or have a barbecue. But freedom means having the ability to forget. Many Americans do use the 4th to commemorate and remember the Declaration of Independence and America’s history of freedom. Unfortunately, the points being remembered and repeated are often used to support preconceived ideas and beat political opponents over the head. That’s why it is so vital to remember freedom well.
The biggest example of the manipulation of history comes every time America debates an intervention. Supporters point to the appeasement policies before World War II that only strengthened Germany and made defeating the Nazis even more difficult. This historical example just happens to make supporters look wise and strong, and their opponents weak and foolish.
Antiwar advocates do the same thing with the Vietnam War. This was a divisive conflict, with unclear strategic aims and appalling American casualties. It has now become short-hand for an unwise conflict that saps American strength. Unsurprisingly, those who oppose intervention use an example that makes them look wise and strong, while it makes their opponents look like Dr. Strangelove cowboys.
In reality, World War II and Vietnam are unique events that will never happen again, though limited and judicious lessons can be drawn. But politicians find those broad analogies useful because most voters react to them based on their indignation, and the angry vote counts as much as the calmly analytical one and seems easier to get.
The antidote to this is not nearly as fun as beating up opponents or manipulating voters using historical clichés, but it’s vital in saving the lives of Americans and American soldiers. The answer lies in better knowing the history of America and the founding principles upon which it was built. For example, Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address is one of the most famous and important speeches in American history. There are numerous differences between ancient Greece and 19th-century America, yet the structure and substance of the speech recalled Pericles’ Funeral Oration, to its benefit. The Greek leader attended the funeral of Athenian soldiers fighting in the Peloponnesian War.
He acknowledged the difficulty of the conflict and painful feelings of the families. But he reminded them of their ancestors, who started the experiment in freedom, and how the survivors can honor the dead by rededicating their lives to that principle. Abraham Lincoln’s “four score and seven years ago” directly referenced the Declaration of Independence; he then said that words cannot hallow the ground, only the actions of highly resolved soldiers could. The end result of wisely applying historical principles made Lincoln’s speech incredibly moving and effective.
Sometime during all of the fireworks, I hope Americans can remember the Declaration of Independence, but also the historical principles it represents. I also hope they take the time to dive further into history in order to better understand and comment upon current events. The nights of studying won’t compare to fireworks or a weekend in Vegas, but it’s an important step to ensure that freedom continues and avoids manipulation by politicians.
