American Purpose

Several hundred years ago a small ship sailed into a small bay in an unexplored part of what would one day become known as America. This ship of course was the Mayflower. Contained on this ship were just over one hundred refugees from England who were fleeing religious persecution. Their goal was simple: create a place for us to live. But they went on to do much more than that. They ended up being one of the most influential members of the early American movement, and influenced many who were yet to come.

The leader of this expedition, William Bradford had a grander purpose than to just live. He wanted his small colony to “be a shining city upon a hill for all to see.” These words categorized America for much of her long existence. And it is these few words that sum up Americas purpose.

Over the course of American history these words have guided the leaders of the country. Even the founding of the country was done, in part, to show the world that America can guide the world to overthrowing tyrannical overlords and become independent. And it accomplished its mission. The French Revolution quickly followed the American, and was influenced by it. Over the rest of the 19th century America stood as a shining city as it stretched to the Pacific Ocean. Into the 20th century America was pulled into both World Wars to continue this tradition.

However, this is where America lost track of its goal. It no longer was a city on a hill, but a watchman with a lamp trying to guide the rest of the world. America had gone from being a place welcoming all and serving to inspire to the policeman of the world shining his flashlight into sovereign countries. Perhaps I will discuss this change in foreign policy later, but for now it serves to say that America became entangled with the affairs of the world, and less concerned with being a city set upon a hill.

It also serves to note that it was the 1920’s that brought about the first immigration controls. I will not go into immigration at this time, but as Ronald Reagan said in his farewell speech to congress the shining city on a hill was “a tall, proud city, built on rocks stronger than ocean, windswept, God-blest, with free ports teeming with commerce and creativity; and if there had to be city walls, those walls had doors, and those doors were open to all…” America had drifted from being a city on a hill, to being a place where only a certain number of people could come.

America has taken up far to many “nation building” excursions. The current war in the Middle East is one example. Instead of simply being a shining lighthouse in a troubled sea to lead others we have become a nation that uses force to coerce our special breed of government. This is by no means what America was founded on.

As you can see, America has drifted from the noble dreams it was founded upon and has changed into something very different entirely. In the upcoming posts I will be exploring each of the following issues and offering my perspective on them: Immigration, Foreign Policy, and Democracy.