As is so woefully frequent in columns that incorporate any number of quotations, one is reminded of what has been (probably erroneously) attributed to the oft-quoted Dr. Samuel Johnson.
"Your manuscript," the renowned 18th century author, editor and critic is said to have opined to a writer, "is both good and original. But the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good."
So shall it almost certainly be the case in the bilge you are reading now.
Undaunted, we start with the wisdom of a gentleman named Stevie Wonder:
"When you believe in things that you don't understand," asserted Mr. Wonder in the song, "Superstition," "then you suffer."
Several recent communications to this newspaper and other media outlets describe an infallible America (at least until the current administration) created by ardent Christians who by mere oversight neglected to mention a deity in the Constitution.
Clearly, by Stevie Wonder's definition, there is great suffering abounding in the land.
While the "love it or leave it" crowd likes to claim sole ownership of patriotism, I prefer to feel about America the way Winston Churchill felt about democracy.
"Indeed," he said, "it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
To truly love America, you have to do it while being mindful of its flaws, like being married to a wonderful spouse who snores every once in a while.
Take, for instance, the case of one of the early European explorers to the Americas. While searching for gold in Hispaniola _ now the Dominican Republic and Haiti _ this guy would punish native workers who failed to meet their quotas by cutting off their hands or having them crucified in rows of 13 _ one for Jesus and the rest for the 12 Apostles.
How do we regard this explorer today?
We throw him a parade every October and call it Columbus Day.
For all their admirable qualities and their vital contributions to this country _ and there are so many _ George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, among other Founding Fathers, owned slaves and kept them until they died.
By any fair definition, what was done to the native population of this continent amounts to genocide and ethnic cleansing. In our headlong desire to fulfill our "manifest destiny," we fought a war with Mexico to unapologetically steal its land.
A young lieutenant named Ulysses S. Grant who fought for the United States in that conflict later called it "one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation."
The United States Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision in 1857 established slaves not as people but as property, like a mule or a horse.
Blacks, wrote Chief Justice Roger Taney, "are so inferior that they had no rights which a white man was bound to respect."
And what would we think of someone who said something like this:
"I will say, then, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races; ... there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And in as much as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race."
What do we think of this obvious racist? Well, we built him a huge memorial in Washington, D.C., carved his image on Mount Rushmore and put his face on pennies and the $5 bill.
His name was Abraham Lincoln, and his remarks were made in 1858 during the fourth Lincoln-Douglas debate.
The real strength of America _ and its valid claim to moral leadership in a world teeming with despots and tyrants _ is that it has, like no other nation, genuinely tried to address its faults.
"You can always count on Americans to do the right thing," said Churchill, "after they've tried everything else."
Somehow through the years, we have taken a Constitution that originally granted no real rights to women, blacks and people who did not own land, and have made an honest effort to "do the right thing."
Jefferson, in Paris when it was going on, derisively referred to the Constitutional Convention as "an assembly of demigods."
Or were the authors of the Constitution _ as believed by the Mormon Church and a local letter writer or two _ divinely inspired? Perhaps, but only in the same way as the anonymous genius who decided that baseball's bases should be set 90 feet apart and home plate 60 feet, six inches, from the pitching rubber.
"The truth is incontrovertible," Churchill said. "Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is."
The truth is, America isn't perfect. It never was, ever will be or was ever really intended to be.
But it is what critics often refer to as our political correctness that continues to power this wonderful country in its inevitable drive toward a welcome tolerance and what the Preamble to the Constitution calls "a more perfect union."
And you can quote me on that.
Sam Pollak is the editor of The Daily Star. He can be reached at spollak@thedailystar.com or at 432-1000, ext. 208.
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Sam Pollak
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Welcome to our story comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including the unpopular ones. We only ask that you keep your conversations clean, civil and on the topic of the story you are commenting on.
Coinciding with our websites redesign, we launched our new story comments feature through Disqus.
Disqus gives users the ability to log into our story comments feature so that they may be able to track their conversations, receive emails when their comments get a reply or to even have your comments update onto your Facebook or Twitter accounts.
For the time being, our story comments feature will continue to have the ability to post comments anonymously. We reserve the right to require registration in the future using your name and verified email address.
Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified at the newspaper’s discretion for a number of different reasons. Please follow our Online Rules of Conduct at all times.
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6. Intolerant comments on religion, race, age, gender, sexual preference or disabilities.
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August 7, 2010
American history shows we are far from infallible
- Big Chuck D'Imperio
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Safety Patrol D.C. visits never get old
I asked Cam Morris, head of Eastern Travel/Oneonta Bus Lines, how many years her company has been handling the Safety Patrol trip to Washington, D.C.
Continued ... - My pal Brucie, savior of Sidney's hospital
- Catching a whiff of 'Vermont Vapor'
- Selections from the virtual mailbag
- Recalling days of 'Doughnut King'
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Safety Patrol D.C. visits never get old
- Cary Brunswick
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We've become our own worst enemies
The past month has been marked by a seeming unprecedented number of man-made tragedies, as distinct from those caused by violent outbursts of the natural world, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis.
Continued ... - Plenty of blame to go around for Bangladesh horror
- Obama is going against his word on Social Security
- Reflecting on a Florida trip
- Those magnificent spies in their flying machines
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We've become our own worst enemies
- Chuck Pinkey
- Guest Column
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Records seizure is an insult to free press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
Continued ... - The evangelical view of same-sex marriage
- Manor's fate will be Otsego board's legacy
- A closer look at our economy - Part II
- Use fracking to fill budget gaps
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Records seizure is an insult to free press
- Lisa Miller
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A view from above
Fire towers in the Catskill Mountains have always been destination points, built to capture some of the region’s best views. These sentinel stations served an important role for the earliest possible sightings of forest fires in the remote mountain ranges. But the fire towers and those who manned them fulfilled a multitude of other roles as well.
Continued ... - Being a parent is a constant learning process
- Healthy doesn't have to mean expensive
- A family era ends with close of Potter series
- Independent stores make up for loss of Borders
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- Mark Simonson
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General Clinton Canoe Regatta got a new home in 1972
Ever since 1963, when Charles Hinkley and a group of Tri-Town businessmen came up with the idea for what we know today as the General Clinton Canoe Regatta, people lined the shores of the Susquehanna to watch the canoeists as they made their 70-mile trek from Cooperstown to Bainbridge.
Continued ... - Sunday movies in Oneonta finally shown in 1934
- Politics, fitness and landmarks dominated local news in May 1968
- Local people sought income in many ways in 1933
- Local windstorm in 1983 caused tense moments
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- Rick Brockway
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Kids have sparkle in their eyes
When I was in my teens, old Bill Naatz told me about a stream north of Lake George where a man had panned out enough gold to make his wife a wedding band. It was all rumors, but to his grandson and myself, it sounded like the makings of a great adventure.
- People make the outdoors even better
- Turkey season has ups and downs
- Spring air isn't always the freshest
- Adriondacks keep growing and growing
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Kids have sparkle in their eyes
- Sam Pollak
- William Masters
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Schreibman tops Chris Gibson on women's issues
As the time to vote draws near, we need to remember how money can run politics more than we can. Raising funds is a prominent (if not the dominant) task of getting elected. Raising issues is also crucial, but those efforts are subject to distortion and fear-mongering.
- Republicans feelentitled to allthey can garner An entitlement is a legal benefit available from the government to individuals who are within a defined category of recipients, such as needing insurance for unemployment or health services.
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Romney focuses on self; Obama emphasizes unity
Mitt Romney criticizes President Obama for saying a person's success is rooted in his community, and is not all his alone. Romney belittles this with his belief in individual initiative. He is better at the put-down than the push-up.
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Romney shows little regard for common man
The Republicans in Congress have voted over and over, 33 times, redundantly and uselessly, to rescind what they call Obamacare.
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Scouts' gay ban creates problem where none exists
The Boy Scouts of America's "emphatic reaffirmation" of its vow to exclude any and all homosexuals from its hallowed ranks is ill-considered and pathetic, especially in view of its having reviewed the matter for two years.
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Schreibman tops Chris Gibson on women's issues
