[Note: this is part of our annual Guest Writer Series. Meet guest writer #2.]
There were two 18th century revolutions that despite being close in time, were very different in the spirits they embodied.
In July 1776 in Philadelphia, the Second Continental Congress declared America liberated from the rule of King George III and Great Britain. The delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence which claimed the self-evident right of all people to live their lives and pursue happiness in any way they saw fit. After winning the revolutionary war in 1783, Americans were free to go about their business without being told what to do. This live-and-let-live attitude was built into the DNA of the fledgling country.
In July 1789 in Paris, French citizens stormed the Bastille in opposition to the rule of King Louis XVI due to frustration over economic and social inequality. The monarchy eventually fell and was succeeded by the violent Reign of Terror. The king was executed in 1793 via guillotine along with tens of thousands of others not supportive of the revolution. More bloodshed followed, as warring factions continued to fight for power. Instead of people free from being told what to do, the result was a struggle for who got to do the telling.
So here we are in July 2023. Does America today exude the spirit of the American Revolution or that of the French Revolution? In other words, are we Philadelphia or Paris?
The answer is obvious, is it not? We may not be in a revolution, but we certainly are in the midst of a culture war and neither side is simply seeking to live their own lives as they see fit. One side of the political spectrum has embraced Marxist critical theory which invalidates opposing viewpoints, and on the other side the leading candidate for the presidential nomination has told his supporters that “I am your retribution.”
It’s fine to hold beliefs on social issues, even passionately so. What runs contrary to America’s founding is the desire to impose your beliefs on others who disagree with you.
It doesn’t seem that long ago when the mantra was it’s nobody’s business what goes on inside the privacy of your own bedroom. What the heck happened? Why is all the sex and gender stuff front and center? The push from many on the left has gone from wanting tolerance to wanting to be validated. The thing is, implying that people who disagree with you are bigots isn’t going to win many converts. And taking it a step further, efforts to shape kids’ sexual attitudes in schools, especially without parents’ knowledge or consent, will only invite a massive and vehement pushback.
Those on the right have witnessed the shift in the culture and the frequent “cancelling” of those expressing conservative opinions. Somewhere along the way, their tactics shifted from playing defense to going on offense. To take a recent example, some states have tried to make drag shows illegal anywhere children might be present. Such legislation puts the lie to the claim that lawmakers are even being tolerant. You can’t say on one hand Christian bakers shouldn’t be forced to bake a cake for a gay wedding and then on the other hand prevent people from engaging in free expression.
We cherish our rights to freedom of speech, religion, and conscience. It’s a given that we are not going to speak, believe, and think the same. Therefore, in order for any of us to have these rights, we all have to have these rights. We must seek to resolve our differences with pluralistic approaches where we can live and let live.
Of course, not all political issues allow for solutions where each of us can do our own thing. In those situations where the choice is between X and Y, we can still engage in debate with civility and respect. As the saying goes, you have two ears and only one mouth for a reason. Try listening to understand where the other person is coming from. Chances are you will learn something and just might change your mind.
Every four years we are told, “This is the most important election of our lifetimes!” To the extent that sentiment is true, it’s only because we perceive that the party in charge will get to tell the rest of us how to live our lives. If we returned to a live-and-let-live attitude about our public affairs, we could focus on electing the most qualified candidates instead of only considering those who share our perspective on cultural issues.
Can we please return to Philadelphia?
Respectfully…
PJM