E Pluribus Unum and American Exceptionalism vs. Hyphens, Multiculturalism and 'Tribalism'

We have a whole lot of strife going on in America and around the world these days. What's to be done, other than listen to the politicians prattle on about how 'they' are going to take care of us make us safe?

Why not engage in self help by taking things in our own hands and treating others as we would have them treat us? The Golden Rule approach by each of us wouldn't solve our nation's many problems with the many 'sickies' out there, of course, but it would make us a better society -- a much better society.

And while we can't do much, if anything, about the problems in the rest of the world, we can address in earnest those in our own country. Treating each other as equal Americans without regard to ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, race, sex or religion would be a meaningful point of emphasis, or at least that's my view.

So let's each set aside the hyphens, multi-cultural and tribal self references, such as Asian-Americans, Muslim-Americans, African-Americans, Latin-Americans, LGBT-Americans, Jewish-Americans and so forth when talking to or about each other. Ok?

The historic Great Seal (aka national emblem) of the United States says simply --- E Pluribus Unum --- and its simple translation is --- Out of Many, One. So it has been since our nation's beginning and so it must forever be.

We once believed that we were a nation of equals. Do we still choose to be? That's the question we each need to answer for ourselves. I emphatically say yes!

In other words, here in the U.S.A., do we choose to belong to, and identify with, separate 'tribes' or do we choose to be Americans first and foremost? I'm for being Americans. How about you?

But emphasizing multiculturalism and tribalism aren't the same thing as a one for all and all for one mentality. They simply don't go together --- not even close.

The simple fact is that identifying as members of the American community and not as members of various 'tribes' or hyphenated names made America the greatest and most exceptional nation the world has ever known.

So today, and in honor of my long departed special Father (who died August 10, 1974) on this Father's Day, I commit to working smart, hard and together to do my part and make it that way again.

America: History's Exception has this summary of what made American Exceptionalism a wonderful and unique reality in the history of the world:

"We should seek to preserve the ideals that made America successful.

The history of nations is mostly characterized by ethnic and racial uniformity, not diversity.

Most national boundaries reflected linguistic, religious, and ethnic homogeneity. Until the late 20th century, diversity was considered a liability, not a strength.

Countries and societies that were ethnically homogeneous, such as ancient Germanic tribes or modern Japan, felt that they were inherently more stable and secure than the alternative, whether late imperial Rome or contemporary America.

Many societies created words to highlight their own racial purity. At times, “Volk” in German and “Raza” in Spanish (and “Razza” in Italian) meant more than just shared language, residence, or culture; those words also included a racial essence. Even today, it would be hard for someone Japanese to be fully accepted as a Mexican citizen, or for a native-born Mexican to migrate and become a Japanese citizen.

Many cultures reflected their suspicion of diversity by using pejorative nouns for the “other.” In Hebrew, the “goyim” were all the other non-Jewish nations and peoples. “Odar” in Armenian denoted the rest of the world that was not ethnically Armenian. For Japanese, the “gaijin” are those who by nationality, ethnicity, and race cannot become fully Japanese. In 18th-century Castilian Spain, “gringo” meant any foreign, non-native speakers of Spanish.

The Balkan states were the powder kegs of 20th-century world wars because different groups wanted to change national boundaries to reflect their separate ethnicities.

The premise of Nazi Germany was to incorporate all the German “Volk” into one vast racially and linguistically harmonious “Reich” — even if it meant destroying the national borders of Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland.

The constitution of Mexico unapologetically predicates national immigration policies on not endangering Mexico’s ethnic makeup. The United States steadily evolved to define Americans by their shared values, not by their superficial appearance.

Countries, ancient and modern, that have tried to unite diverse tribes have usually fared poorly. The Italian Roman Republic lasted about 500 years. In contrast, the multiracial Roman Empire that after the Edict of Caracalla in AD 212 made all its diverse peoples equal citizens endured little more than two (often violent) centuries.

Vast ethnically diverse empires such as those of the Austro-Hungarians, the Ottomans, and the Soviets used deadly force to keep their bickering ethnic factions in line — and from killing each other.

Modern states such as multicultural or multi-tribal Rwanda, Iraq, and Lebanon have often proved deadly failures. Europe is trying to emulate the multiracial but unified culture of the United States. But the European Union may well tear itself apart trying to assimilate millions of disparate migrants who are reluctant to fully assimilate.

America is history’s exception. It began as a republic founded by European migrants. Like the homogenous citizens of most other nations, they were likely on a trajectory to incorporate racial sameness as the mark of citizenship. But the ultimate logic of America’s unique Constitution was different. So the United States steadily evolved to define Americans by their shared values, not by their superficial appearance. Eventually, anyone who was willing to give up his prior identity and assume a new American persona became American.

The United States has always cherished its “melting pot” ethos of e pluribus unum — of blending diverse peoples into one through assimilation, integration, and intermarriage. The history of state multiculturalism is one of discord, violence, chaos, and implosion.

When immigration was controlled, measured, and coupled with a confident approach to assimilation, America thrived. Various ethnic groups enriched America with diverse art, food, music, and literature while accepting a common culture of American values and institutions. Problems arose only when immigration was often illegal, in mass, and without emphasis on assimilation.

Sometime in the late 20th century, America largely gave up on multiracialism under one common culture and opted instead for multiculturalism, in which each particular ethnic group retained its tribal chauvinism and saw itself as separate from the whole.

Hyphenated names suddenly became popular. The government tracked Americans’ often complicated ethnic lineage. Jobs and college admissions were sometimes predicated on racial pedigrees and quotas. Courts ruled that present discrimination was allowable compensation for past discrimination.

Schools began to teach that difference and diversity were preferable to sameness and unity. Edgar Allan Poe and Langston Hughes were categorized as “white male” or “black” rather than as “American” authors.

Past discrimination and injustice may explain the current backlash against melting-pot unity. And America’s exalted idealism has made it criticized as less than good when it was not always perfect.

Nonetheless, for those who see America becoming a multicultural state of unassimilated tribes and competing racial groups, history will not be kind. The history of state multiculturalism is one of discord, violence, chaos, and implosion.

So far, America has beaten the odds and remained multiracial rather than multicultural, thereby becoming the most powerful nation in the world.

We should remember that diversity is an ornament, but unity is our strength."

Summing Up

Happy Father's Day.

Yes, America is truly unique in its shared values approach and goal of having an 'E Pluribus Unum' society of equals.

We're not there yet and perhaps never will be, but that's no reason to stop trying, and trying hard.

As poet Robert Browning Browning said, "Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?"

Let's each and all work hard to deemphasize the use of hyphens and 'group thinking tribalism' when viewing ourselves and our fellow Americans.

Asian-Americans, African-Americans, Latin-Americans, Muslim-Americans, Catholic-Americans, Jewish-Americans, LGBT-Americans, Native-Americans and so on aren't what will continue to make us the greatest and most special nation on earth.

We're simply Americans.

That's what American Exceptionalism is all about.

E Pluribus Unum.

That's my take.

Thanks. Bob.