Editorial note: If you have not yet read our mission statement above, please do so in order that you can put our blogs in context. 

18 October 2013

THE AMERICAN’S CREED

I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.

I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.

William Tyler Page (1868-1942), US public servant. See US Congressional Record, volume 56, page 286.

Antigone1984:

Fine words, if perhaps a tad uncritical. Rose-tinted spectacles come to mind. It’s certainly a point of view, forcefully expressed. However, not everyone, particularly outside America, would agree. In particular, as is often said, fine words butter no parsnips. You need to walk the walk as well as talk the talk.

Guantánamo Bay, Abu Ghraib, Fallujah – how do they sit with Page’s paean?

English writer and lexicographer Samuel Johnson (1709-1794), maintained that “patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel” (Boswell’s Life of Johnson, volume 2, page 348).

——–

 You might perhaps care to view some of our earlier posts.  For instance:

1. Why? or How? That is the question (3 Jan 2012)

2. Partitocracy v. Democracy (20 July 2012)

3. The shoddiest possible goods at the highest possible prices (2 Feb 2012)

4. Capitalism in practice  (4 July 2012) 

5.Ladder  (21 June 2012)

 6. A tale of two cities (1)  (6 June 2012)

 7. A tale of two cities (2)  (7 June 2012)

 8. Where’s the beef? Ontology and tinned meat (31 Jan 2012)

Every so often we shall change this sample of previously published posts.

——-