Wednesday, June 17, 2020

The Bitter Fruit of Group Identity

The Ghosts of H. L. Mencken

Communities and nations whose citizens are bound by a commonality of purpose, philosophy, and origin have the best chance to achieve long term stability.  For centuries, the nations of the “Old World” retained specific identities based on language, geography, and customs in spite of continental migration and numerous wars.   

America was the exception.  Geographically separated by two oceans from the “Old World”, the “New World” became home to immigrants searching for economic and social freedom. 

Individualism, our nation’s philosophy and the foundation of our legal and governmental system, was the glue that held society together.  Our founding documents, the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and The Bill of Rights guaranteed those individual freedoms to the people.

America of that era was referred to the “Melting Pot”.

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