God’s own country?
When I was very young, I was taught many things about my nation — the United States of America — that I liked very much.
I was taught that the United States of America was the only nation with liberty and justice for all, which felt very good indeed, because I wanted to be a fireman; and in this nation, anyone could be a fireman! Even a girl! At that time I had a hard time understanding why a girl might want to become a fire-person, but shortly I found it very interesting.
I was taught that the United States of America was the home of the free and the brave. I thought that was just plain terrific, because I wanted to be free and brave, and not like all those other mysterious people my teachers were talking about.
And I was taught that the United States of America and its land was made for anyone who wanted to be part of it. We sang “This land was made for you and me!” and felt truly wonderful, because we believed as we were told that ‘American’ children were the best kind of children in the world, with a right to a nice large part of the best land that ever was, with more freedom than anyone else, ever.
But then something strange happened. I learned that for a great many people in the USA — some of almost every possible description — there is and has always been neither justice nor liberty, but instead, persecution and death.
I learned that to do a large group of very important things in the USA, persons must have a lot of money, must have the correct relatives, must hurt a lot of people, and sometimes, all three.
I learned that every other nation in the world is like this also, and has always been like this, no matter whether they had president, or senate, or king, or party chairman, or prime minister, or some combination.
I learned that the most substantial differences between nations in this world are what kinds of people are being persecuted and killed, and how many on a given day, and where, and how wealthy they all are.
I learned more, and more. But I did not like lying to myself. I did not like turning a blind eye to any of it. I did not like the fact that I had been enjoying a nation whose first foundational principle was “might makes right” — a principle without which any of the nations of this world would not have come to their strength, and power, and wealth, and the kinds of freedom of pleasure which only material wealth brings. I did not like the fact that all sorts of other good principles were hung on this one.
I also learned that many people in the world who lack both material wealth and all of the so-called ‘freedoms’ prized by those who kill for them, are some of the most loving people, the best people, in the world.
And so, increasingly over time, I became very sad. I tried to refuse to serve any one pile of garbage, in favour of any other; but this left me with nothing at all, which was worse.
But then I was given something else. Something different.
I was given knowledge of a different nation. A nation which demands absolute allegiance, but which rewards it with absolute love. A nation whose people are free to stand up and joyfully violate all of the world’s commands to lie, to respect that which is not good, and to extract vengeance or deliver death, no matter what the circumstances.