from romance to hope

It has been said by famous historian types that History, like all story, is told in one of four styles--Tragedy, Comedy, Satire, or Romance. I have not read every history book in my life through these lenses and cannot vouch for the sentiment; however, I admit that when I think about American history--it is all romance for me.

Recently I referred to myself as Patriotic, and a good friend was shocked. His confusion was justified, as in the last, let's say 8 years, my deep love for the American past has been overshadowed by my cynicism in reference to the American present. (president?) This contrast has been one of many factors recently that are bringing me back to my own past.

As a little kid, I deeply believed that America was the very best place in the whole world to live--how could anyone want to live anywhere else? I was deeply thankful to have been born here, and deeply saddened for those not fortunate enough to have had immigrants in their families, yet. I assumed that everyone, if given the chance, would move to America, and it was just a matter of time.

Though I realize now that the arrogance of that belief may be unfounded, I am remembering again why America is so great. I have always been intrigued by the history of the USA--the great ideas, dreams, hopes, our victories and failures, our ideals and the infrastructure to maintain them. Checks and Balances, for example, so elegant, so logical, so beautiful to me.

And yet, perhaps inevitably, the very things that made America so great in some ways, have also been our greatest downfalls. And the great myths of American individualism and self-reliance have gone too far. The "rugged individualism" necessary to settle the entire frontier was a misnomer--NO ONE made it very far all by themselves. The entire idea of a republic is intradependence (or interdependence? either way, not INdependence) Our Independence--so radical and necessary--from England was not a call to disconnection from one another. And yet that is where we seem to have landed these 200-some years later.

I am entirely guilty of buying into this myth, by the way. I love that I have my own car and never need public transportation. I love that I have a house of my own that I don't have to share with anyone...and isn't it even more impressive b/c I am a single woman under 30! I take great pride in my independent lifestyle--I can do what I want, when I want. I am living an American Dream!

Shockingly, in my efforts to gain independence, I haven't found what I thought would be there right next to it--happiness. Instead, I feel disconnected, uninspired, and lonesome. Independence does not bring fulfillment. I shouldn't be surprised--I know that I am made to bear the image of the Lord--who is in his-own-mysterious-triune-self INTERdependent. Jesus called us to love one another, to be connected--not to look out for number one. And the great ideals of America--while NOT synonymous with the Gospel of Jesus--also depend on people in community working together, protecting one another, together sending representatives to lead, relying on each other for their livelihoods, etc, etc, etc. Neither Christianity or Republicanism (the form of gov't, not the GOP) allows for lone rangers--it just don't work.

What is my point? My romance with America has been largely equivalent to all other romances in my life--I care deeply, really, I do, and together, in my mind, we (Fake husband & I /America & I) accomplish great things, but when it comes down to it, I am not willing to take risks or make any real sacrifices for the object of my affection.

I think love is about stepping up and making sacrifices, I believe this because there are people who I love in this world, they are the people who I consider my family--people to whom I am related by blood or by circumstance. I will make sacrifices for these people because I love them. I will do more than what is comfortable for me, because I love them. And because they love me, they ask me to do this for them. This is where my relationship with America breaks down.

In my entire life, I have never been asked to do more for America than go shopping, wear a flag pin, or put a ribbon magnet on my car. I grew up hearing stories of my grandparents' lives during WWII, and understanding about sacrifice from a distance, and I have been waiting to be asked to do something similar. I realize that my view of such things is also romantic and perhaps not realistic. I also know that left to my own devices I will do little that lies beyond my comfort, yet I also believe that my life is about more than that. I have been waiting to be asked to do more, waiting to be inspired. This week I heard a speech that calls all of us to remember how we are connected, to realize that our actions matter, and that to be an American means to take seriously the promise our forefathers made for us to--the people of the United States--to keep--the promise to endeavor to form a more perfect union.

America will never be perfect. A government made up of broken people, no matter how noble the vision will never be able to become perfect or fully restored--only the Master of the Universe can make anything "perfect," but we can each do our part toward the common goal--not to form a more perfect life for myself and my plot of land, but a more perfect UNION, for ALL of us.

I have been waiting to be asked to take part in this noble cause, and I will be voting for Barack Obama because rather than assuming I prefer a "political machine" to take care of such things for me, rather than assuming my personal vision is more important to me than that of my nation, rather than assuming that I don't have anything to offer, Senator Obama has called ALL of us to remember, to take responsibility, to connect.

If you have not yet read or heard the speech given by Senator Obama on Tuesday of this week, please take a few minutes to listen to/read it here. I welcome your comments.