For a number of months, this political mantra has been chanted
by hundreds, printed on placards, billboards, caps and clothes; promoted by
organizations, political teams, spiritual our bodies and people. Reviewing
the social, financial, environmental, governmental, worldwide and ethical
fluctuations, and what occurred inside the U.S. over the previous 10 years alone
has given rise from some, and condemnation from others, to chant the mantra of
“Make America nice once more.”
But, that “mantra” requires clarification. At what level or
interval in its historical past was America thought-about to be “nice?” What standards was
used affirming that standing?
Was it throughout the early 1600 and 1700s, when hundreds of
individuals got here to those shores searching for “spiritual freedom,” reduction from
indebtedness and an opportunity of freedom from ethical and political tyrants? Or
throughout the Revolutionary Struggle when the colonies achieved political freedom from
England? Or throughout the westward motion, when hundreds of indigenous
inhabitants, who, by a sort of “eminent area mentality” of these “new”
Individuals, had been evicted from their native lands and habitats and had been pressured to
set up new dwelling locations on unsettled and unfamiliar land. In the meantime,
those self same “eminently dominated” properties had been offered to “newcomer” consumers – legally?
Or when:
• Hundreds of African slaves had been captured, offered, and
transported from their native lands to plant and harvest the cotton,
tobacco and sugar cane for the financial good thing about this nation’s capitalists?
• Or throughout the westward motion, when underpaid Chinese language
and Irish immigrants had been conscripted to construct the Transcontinental Railroad
by means of this nation’s mountainous areas?
• Or throughout the Industrial Revolution, when enterprise barons
developed and harnessed the sincere labor of hundreds for meager wages, benefiting
themselves?
• Or throughout the incarceration of hundreds of harmless
Japanese residents throughout World Struggle II?
• Or throughout the proliferation of “conditional” voting
laws and prerequisites for Black and non-white voters?
When and on what grounds did Individuals view themselves
as being “nice”? Or was {that a} figment of sure individuals’ imaginations who,
at numerous intervals of time, sought and nonetheless search to view themselves as being
“nice?”
When, in its historical past, did America lose its perceived
“greatness,” and why? What had been the circumstances that brought about the erosion of
that sense of “greatness?”
Was it when “white supremacy,” underneath Jim Crow and Ku Klux
Klan banners, established legal guidelines and practices hindering and stopping
people and organizations to succeed, and which usurped the cooperative
genius, talents and freedoms of Blacks for their very own advantages, imposing a
“second class citizenship” standing upon them?
When had been these historic moments and occasions when the
notion that America – that “nation underneath God” – misplaced its “greatness?” Make clear
these points, conditions, issues, accomplishments, conflicts, set-backs,
damaged goals, private and collective organizational, ethical, and monetary
mess-ups which turned tinder and gasoline, destroying the hopes and wishes for
this nation to rise above and transfer past regardless of the foundation for America’s
perceived “greatness” was!
It’s true that the U.S. has reached and has been most
influential and supportive of so lots of the medical, instructional, financial,
political, governmental and even environmental advances all over the world. But
so lots of the perceptions and actions by the management and populace of this
nation, since its inception, have given quite a few causes to problem the reality
and depth of America’s “greatness!”
It’s true that hundreds of individuals got here to those shores
searching for and receiving “spiritual freedom”; reduction from indebtedness; and a
likelihood of freedom from ethical and political tyrants. However others additionally got here to
these shores! Individuals with a need to personally profit from the assets of
others.
Traditionally, as legit Individuals – as so many
immigrants had been – the wishes for some to profit “self” on the expense of
“others” – no matter their ethnicity, faith or social standing – quickly
overshadowed the minds of many. What was, and nonetheless is, behind that intense
willpower to “evict” these lengthy established residents and authentic
landowners from their property and to ascertain “eminent domains” for
themselves.
Even to power these authentic landowners to ascertain new
dwelling locations on unsettled and unfamiliar land. Or to justify these
“evictions,” after which promote that very same “eminently dominated” property and
dominating the “newcomer” consumers for their very own profit –legally! The “Path of Tears” nonetheless flows for a lot of in
America.
How is it that legal guidelines of servitude and indenture may very well be
imposed upon these “new England,” and “new Spain” and “new France” immigrants
and “eviction notices” be imposed on these long-established residents of the “New
World?”
Or to justify the establishment of slavery of individuals from
different nations for the sustainment of these inhumane private and enterprise
advantages? Even to ascertain legal guidelines to “rational-lie” and “just-a-lie” these
immoral practices! Is that this the America that’s sought to be “made nice” once more?
Embrace these immigrants from different ethnic, cultural,
political and spiritual nations who, whereas searching for the identical hopes and goals
to raised alternatives for his or her households, had been relegated to turn into slaves and
chattel for individuals who sought to profiteer from their social, monetary,
linguistic and academic limitations.
What concerning the destruction of the properties and companies of
these segregated communities based mostly on trumped-up lies and jealousy of the
financial, instructional and social developments of these ethnic, spiritual and
cultural teams who had come to make actual the “American dream” for his or her
households?
Is this the character and standards for “greatness” that
America is being inspired to “return to?
A larger tragedy and travesty can be realized in these
spiritual our bodies and people who promote this fallacious attraction. Whether or not or
not the inclusion of the phrase “one nation underneath God” ought to constitutionally
be included in our Pledge to Allegiance doesn’t change the truth that the
populace of the U.S. adheres to the idea that America is a “nation underneath God.”
Many others could attribute its “greatness” to its adherence to “spiritual
freedom.” If these are the factors, then how can a real believer in God
and servant of God advocate an attraction for “greatness” that’s based mostly on
immoral and ungodly ideas and practices?
The preamble to the Declaration of Independence in 1776 of
this nation declared:
“We maintain these truths to be self-evident, that every one males are
created equal, that they’re endowed by their creator with sure unalienable
Rights, that amongst these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
But, within the 1857 Supreme Court docket resolution within the Dred Scott
case, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney acknowledged, “blacks had been considered beings of
an inferior order and had no rights which the white man is certain to respect.” That
resolution devalued Black individuals and affirmed a “authorized proper” to deal with Black
individuals as chattel.
That is how individuals of different ethnic teams have additionally been
handled throughout this “nice” nation’s historical past! How can this nation, which
devalues any portion of its citizenry, qualify to be a nation underneath God?
Of the 670 some verses of scripture which discuss with one thing
or somebody being “nice,” solely seven verses communicate concerning the “greatness of a
nation.”
These seven verses – Genesis 12:2, 17:20, 21:18, 46:3, and
Exodus 32:10 – discuss with God making a “nice nation” out of Abram, Ishmael,
Jacob and Moses respectively.
However solely Deuteronomy 4:7-8 clearly confirms what makes a “nice
nation.”
“For what nation is there so nice, who hath God so nigh
unto them, because the Lord our God is in all issues that we name upon him for? And
what nation is there so nice, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as
all this regulation, which I set earlier than you today?”
Biblically, a nation’s “greatness” rests solely on its acceptance
of, dedication to the regulation of God; and its obedient relationship with God as its
ruler; and God’s phrase as its ideas of life in each area of its existence
and operation.
The nation of Israel was the primary and solely nation within the
historical past of mankind which had dedicated itself to dwell and function underneath the legal guidelines
of God. Different nations have arisen, flourished and died out. However God declared in
Deuteronomy 4:7-8 that Israel was considered as a “nice nation” merely due to
its dedication and obedience to God’s legal guidelines.
But, the nation of Israel has strayed from God’s regulation on
quite a few events. And that’s the very cause that God allowed Israel to be
conquered by her enemies and adversaries.
The U.S. should align its legal guidelines, ethical ideas and practices
to adjust to the legal guidelines of God with a purpose to turn into a “nice nation.”
Except and till america, the president, each
elected, appointed and assumed chief and each citizen settle for and commit
themselves to imagine within the rule and reign of the phrase, will and manner of almighty
God in each facet of their lives, America, nor some other nation, can ever be
considered as a “nice nation.” Any and each aware and deliberate deviation
from the phrase of God hinders, and can hinder, this and some other nation from
being “nice” within the sight of God.
Pastor Samuel W. Hale Jr. is the previous pastor of Zion
Missionary Baptist Church and president of J.L. Powell Mission Ministries.
