To Make America Great - Again!

This week a new era started, with a new President, new cabinet members, new governors, mayors and many other world and local leaders who have just come into possession of the position they desired. The era began with the chant, “Make America Great Again!” What does that mean?

Our flag contains the story of our beginnings and expansion

We must first define America. America means the Western hemisphere of the world. It is made up of two continents with a connector and islands. America is named after Amerigo Vespucci. Our hemisphere is made up of many nations. The United States of America is one of the many nations, but there are others.

The Statue of Liberty welcomes immigrants from across the globe

The United Mexican States (Estados Únidos Mexicanos) is another nation which shares a border just to the south of the United States. The people of Mexico speak Spanish as do most of the other nations in America. Spanish is spoken by more people in our hemisphere and in the world than English. Many people in the eastern United States do not realize the rich Hispanic heritage of the southwestern region of our country which pre-dates both our independence and the incorporation of those states into the United States.

To “Make America Great Again” repeats the theme of an earlier time in the United States when the America First Committee was formed so we would not get pulled into the conflict of the century across the ocean. The America First Committee was one of the largest anti-war organizations in American history claiming over 800,000 members including John F. Kennedy, Gerald Ford, Walt Disney, Sinclair Lewis, E. E. Cummings, Charles A. Lindbergh and many others.

Our country is always growing and giving opportunity to all

When most people hear the phrase “Make America Great Again” we think of a time in the past captured through the paintings of Norman Rockwell. Some of the paintings have titles like Freedom from want, Walking to Church, They Remembered, and Freedom from fear. These paintings remind us of an era where people belonged to a strong community. They talked to each other, ate picnics together, competed in sports and enjoyed public events.

But this is not the America of today! The America of today is fragmented and fearful. We protect and insulate ourselves from others so we can exist in our own little world. We purchase security systems and guns because we fear. Some people put bars on their windows. And we talk of building a wall in south of Texas to keep American intruders out.

Norman Rockwell's "Trumpeter"

One demographic of our society, the people most likely to say “Make America Great … Again” really harbors a desire to make themselves great … for a first time. It's like the dream of the lottery. The slogan could just as well say, “Make Me Greater than anyone else.” But this is not what made our country great.

The United States of America becomes great when we realize we are in this together. We are a nation of many people and many races. What began as the land of indigenous people became a land of immigrants: Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and English. The Scotch-Irish and Germans and Eastern Europeans joined the mix as did Vietnamese and Indians, Chinese and others. We are a land which celebrates our differences, and similarities.

The United States opened doors to everyone

In a great America the masses are productive and valued. Those who amass wealth understand their responsibility to contribute to the welfare of everyone. The rich understand and fully participate in targeted benevolence (not government handouts) in order to advance those for whom the American dream is out of reach.

A great America is not a place where we protect our interests by finding tax loopholes. It is not a land which gives extravagant salaries to CEO’s. America is not the place where we take advantage of “cheap labor” south of the border or elsewhere. It is a land which gives appropriate rewards to those who work and watches out for the welfare of all (including those who can’t work).

A great America is a place where we turn off our televisions, computers and cell phones in order to come together for community events like picnics, baseball games, concerts, cultural events and worship. A great America would be a place of high morals where the phrase “do unto others and you would have others do unto you” has meaning and reality. It is a place where we care about one another because we know one another and we like each other. It is a place where Republicans talk to Democrats and include Libertarians and others in the mix because we become great by sharing ideas across party lines and working together.

Of Presidents and Royalty

Today the baton passes from Barack Hussein Obama to Donald John Trump. With the changing of the guard we will see differences in rhetoric, communication style and outward focus on the public side of Washington. Away from public view, because of the bureaucracy, some things will remain same.

Program near the steps of the Capitol in Washington, DC

Eight years ago I looked at the name of our President: Barack Hussein Obama. Barack is Hebrew for blessing (or lightning), Hussein is Arabic for a good or beautiful child. It is also a name for kings, such as the King of Jordan and former king of Iraq. Obama is a family name.

Parade in Washington, DC

Our new President also has an interesting name, Donald John Trump. Donald from the Gaelic Domhnall means ruler of the world. John or Johannan comes from the Hebrew word (יוֹחָנָן) God has graced. Our new President’s last name is a shortened form of an occupational term, Trumpeter. This is appropriate because twittering can be seen as a different form of trumpeting.

Constitution Hall in Philadelphia, PA

Today in Washington D.C. we transition from the reign of “Lightning beautiful child Obama” to the ascendancy of the “Trumpeter who is by the grace of God a Ruler of the World.”

Statue of Liberty welcomes immigrants to the USA

So, what will the administration of Donald John Trump look like? I borrow a line from Fiddler on the Roof, “I tell you, I don’t know.” For the time being I just observe. In four years we will know, and in fifty years historians will decide what “really” happened during Trump’s tenure.

What a fractured world looks like from World Trade Center

One thing we do know (and that we have already seen), promises will be broken. This is true of all Presidents. They can not be blamed, especially a man like Donald Trump, for he comes with no experience in government. And even if he had experience, there is no way to anticipate future events which will torment or bless his dynasty.

Festival on the Mall in Washington DC

A second thing which our new President will discover is that the office of the President changes a person. Contrast the philosophies of Barack Obama eight years ago with what we see in him today, there is change. This can be said of any President. During each year of our President Trump’s sovereignty we will see changing strategy. And if his hairdresser does not mess with it, we will see the graying of the hair which comes with wisdom.

Changing of seasons in the mountains

My prayer for our new President is that he will bring to pass the self-evident truth “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” By this I mean that all people: Black, White or Brown; Christian, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Agnostic or Atheist; Rich or Poor, Democrat, Republican or Libertarian; Inner City, Suburban or Rural, will come to have value.

A street in New York City

The scripture tells us, “When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.” (Deuteronomy 17:18-20)

The President should defend the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and love the foreigner residing among within our land. (Dt. 10:18)  He should guard the common laborer and make sure they receive a fair wage “because they are poor and are counting on it.” Our bankruptcy laws should be overhauled to make sure workmen and small business owners are always paid for work performed. (Sorry about the rant but too many Christians have told me there was no problem with Donald Trump’s declaration of bankruptcies in order not to pay small businesses because the law allows it). “Otherwise they may cry to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.” (Dt. 24:15) The President (and all of his men) should not murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false testimony or send wrongful tweets. (Exodus 20)

Lincoln Monument and Reflecting Pool in Washington DC

We are to “be subject to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1) and submit to the king as the supreme authority.” (1 Peter 2:13) Paul wrote, “that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Many approach the next four years with great hope. Others move forward in great trepidation. I pray that in the end we will find unity, prosperity and peace.