The United States’ journey towards unity
“I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands—one Nation indivisible—with liberty and justice for all. ”
(3 minute read)
The United States began as a nation seeking freedom. We are still not free. To create a future of peace, we must strive for liberty and justice.
We start by re-learning our origin story. You might recall the Founding Fathers and the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. However, our ideals existed long before these Charters of Freedom.
Benjamin Franklin was inspired by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, also known as the People of the Long House. Their Great Law of Peace influenced the U.S. Constitution, especially human rights.
“What Indians are about, I think, first of all is community. They’re about mutual support, they’re about sharing, they’re about understanding what’s common land, common air, common water, and common for all. They’re about freedom.”
-Oren Lyons, the Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan of the Onondaga Nation
Freedom lives deep within us. However, it is an ideal we must practice. Author Gloria Watkins, better known as “bell hooks,” said “culturally diverse education is the practice of freedom.”
This message ignites the spark to discover truth, foster openness, and build connections. When we learn, we practice freedom. We can then expect our leaders to learn and serve the people with trust and kindness.
A vision of hope
1) CHANGE - The U.S. helps communities heal from trauma:
Native Americans have suffered trauma through assimilation. To re-learn history, we can support the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NNABSHC) to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
African Americans have suffered trauma through slavery and oppression. To heal from racism, the W.K. Kellog Foundation launched the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) to empower change.
2) GROWTH - The U.S. acts on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of former President Franklin Roosevelt, supported the Preamble, which states: ‘Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.’
The U.S. Congress can pass the “End Racial and Religious Profiling Act” in order to shape human rights efforts that increase trust with police.
3) TRANSFORMATION - The U.S. protects human rights for all. Former President Jimmy Carter encouraged governments to safeguard the rights of citizens to have jobs, education, housing, and an adequate standard of living.
The US ratifies treaties to address poverty. Such treaties include:
i. Convention on the Rights of the Child
ii. International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.The US enacts kind programs and ratifies international human rights treaties.
Our country has forgotten the original Pledge of Allegiance. However, we must remember it. We must renew ourselves as one Nation indivisible so our children can attain peace for their future.
Additional Sources:
Hooks, Bell. Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom.
Oren, Lyons, and Moyers Bill. “Oren Lyons the Faithkeeper.” BillMoyers.Com, 14 Sept. 2015.
