I've heard it said that America is an idea more than a nation. Founded on the inalienable rights in the Declaration of Independence, on the "We the People" in the Preamble to the Constitution, an idea of freedom and unity. I don't think this notion is particularly liberal or conservative. Many conservatives I know believe strongly that America should be a country in which all are considered equal, and the only valid rank is that of talent, hard work, and determination.
So I was surprised to read in the New York Times that some feel that America should be a Christian country, generally a specifically white, northern European Protestant Christian country. I suppose it is true that the settlers of Massachusetts Bay Colony did envision such a thing, but they were only one group, and they generally didn't like the others. They hated the Baptists of Rhode Island. They had no tolerance for the Dutch down in New Amsterdam. If a Quaker came from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts, they would chop off his hand. If he came back, they'd bore a hole through his tongue. Fortunately, these violently unpleasant people did not have their way, and to be formed into a country, they had to agree that there would be no official religion in the United States. It's right there in the First Amendment, the very first right in all the listing of American rights.
This article from the Times had a quote from someone who objected to the notion that America is an idea more than an ethnicity. He said, "It leaves out some on the right who don't agree." This gave me pause. You see, the America I envision is fundamentally inclusive. Every citizen should be able to sign on to this great idea of America. We can argue about what it means and what to do about, sure, but we all agree it is to be a country defined by its people, that embraces fundamental civic rights, and the fundamental freedom everyone should enjoy. Am I missing something, that someone feels excluded?
I realized that I am. Embracing my vision means giving up a vision of America as a particular ethnic tribe. But I also realized that I don't care. Anyone can embrace this nation of democracy. But doing so requires us to embrace the freedom of others. If you want to live in an America where you can pick and choose who belongs, based on race or faith or "tradition" or whatever you call it, you are taking a stand against democracy, against the freedoms on which this country was built. No one has to be excluded, but if you choose to be, that's your problem.
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