It’s not very often that I’m asked to write something for a special occasion or holiday, and I have to confess to being more than a bit stumped about what to say on this, the darker, more somber fourth of July, but maybe I can make a few worthwhile observations.

I am very much of the opinion that the United States of America is a singular entity.  I know of no other nation that is derived solely from a set of ideas and principles, rather than a long cultural and ethnic history, perhaps save Vatican City.  One can argue the case for American exceptionalism, but the concepts upon which our nation was founded and has grown are so key to the American identity that it is remarkably hard for most people born in the US to really conceive of a national identity being something much closer to self-identification of Texans or New Yorkers.  For that matter, it is equally difficult for many foreigners to understand that flying the flag, or the fits of patriotic fervor that occasionally sweep the nation are not the harbingers of some chauvinist nationalism, bearing the seeds of latent militarism or racism.

It is a unique and strange situation that being a foreigner – an outsider – in the US is not reason to be looked down upon or excluded.  A Martian could arrive in the US and would be regarded as being American as soon as they became a citizen.  Compare this to many other countries in which being a citizen for generations may not be sufficient to make one a “true” member of that nation.  We like to believe that our assessments about people are based not “by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”.  It does say something that a person like Martin Luther King, who was jailed for his protests less than fifty years ago is now hailed as a Great American who embodied many of our best traits.  In fact, it is even a bit more interesting that in most nations, such a change in perspective about someone viewed at the time as a trouble-maker would have almost only come about as a result of a coup or revolution.

I believe that we have done well for ourselves and have shown respect for the ideals on which this nation was founded, complaints from the left and right about the country’s slide into the abyss, notwithstanding.  Rather, I tend to regard the complaints from the extreme wings of political discourse about the direction the country is heading to quite often be equivalent to the self-image of an anorexic supermodel.  Those who complain aren’t trying to tear down the nation, but they lack a fair appraisal of how good things really are, and are possessed with an uncompromising desire for even further perfection.  Granted, things are never perfect here, but they’re pretty damn good.

I had originally wondered about the sacrifices of those who fight and die to protect this country, and have come to think that while the intense fervor with which Americans defends their country and ideals is not a direct result of the quality of those ideals.  Rather than the ideals motivating people to fight, perhaps the great strength of this country and society lies in the fact that it gives birth to so very many people who will take up arms to defend what they believe in, to defend their fellow citizens, to defend sacrifice for the greater good of the nation, and to defend fellow Americans when they are presumed to be fighting to make the country a better place, even when we don’t agree with their views or approaches. 

I think that it is very difficult, even for the bulk of Americans, to truly, completely, and viscerally understand the American experiment in all of its profound glory and ambition.  But I also think that it is possible to get a very good sense of the American experiment through the Americans it has created – knowing Americans through the acts and deeds of her sons and daughters.

It is on the occasion of Memorial Day that we should perhaps not only consider the innumerable sacrifices made for us around the world and throughout the history of this country, or even the values that so many people gave their lives defending, but rather that we have the exceptional honor and privilege of growing up in such a spectacularly unique society that over and over again gives birth to so many people of such noble and heroic character that time and time again they step to the forefront to defend their nation.  It isn’t necessarily the brave pilot who should attract our attention, but the huge number of people who could have much more easily shifted the burden to others, yet chose to take it upon themselves.

People like Pat Tillman, Don Steinbrunner, or Bob Kalsu or any one of a number of other professional athletes who have sacrificed their promising careers to fight and ultimately pay the ultimate price are often cited as being exemplars of heroism.  Other people may choose to view Jimmy Stewart or Elvis Presley as being heroic for their dedication to duty and refusal to take the easy way out.  Still others might want to hold up the example of Patrick Daley, the only surviving son of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.  Or for that matter, any one of the number of people who have promising careers, good educations, and who have, nonetheless, volunteered to take up arms in the defense of their country, like our own Major John, RTO Trainer, or any one of a number of others (folks I must apologize to for not remembering their service).

But what to make of their examples of sacrifice?  We should recall that heroism is not some ordained trait, or touch of God, but that heroism is the most democratic and egalitarian of all traits and behaviors, while also being the most demanding.  Heroism asks us nothing more – and nothing less – than to always put our money where our mouth is.  So, maybe the lesson we should draw from this Memorial Day is not just the sacrifice of the fallen, but that they have lived up to their – and our – ideals.