Go forth and Fourth

Nonetheless, this certainly is a worrisome time. Many, across broad political spectra, are convinced it will all come crashing down around us, unless (fill in the blank) wins, or loses or is allowed to systematically betray our past, destroy our future, and wreck our country.

So, here we are, up to our necks in the Fourth of July and buffeted about by thoughts of such slippery topics as patriotism, freedom, democracy and the Great American Experiment in multicultural self-governance. Something, it should be added, no one anywhere else has attempted on the scale we have.

The observance of the Fourth is a celebration of the American colonies shedding the authority of the English crown, an act not of insurrection but treasonous rebellion. The Declaration of Independence was rooted in the progressive philosophies of notable 18th century essayists and declared certain “self-evident” truths — that we are all “created equal” and that we are “endowed by (our) Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

By the way, the use of the near-generic “Creator” is the closest we come to any religious reference in either the Declaration of Independence or the U.S. Constitution. The founders had experience with an official state religion and found it just one more aspect of onerous monarchy.

Declaring a right to pursue happiness is as radical an assertion as those contained in the Beatitudes. It is a profound statement that each individual should be free to pursue his or her own destiny, constrained only by the same right accorded others.

It is the practical application of these principle where this gets tricky.

Because we all know — from life, if not from politics — that nothing is ever totally one way or totally the other. We do not have to careen from crisis to crisis, we ought to be able meet on constructive common ground.

But, then, we get run ragged by the whirlwind of patriotism, political campaigns, government and elections. It is common to say there is no real difference between either side, often said as some kind of sophisticated and cynical pose. This is just wrong. There is a huge difference, there always has been.

English author Samuel Johnson termed “patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel,” ripe for exploitation. I remain flummoxed how one side of the political spectrum has absconded with the symbolism embodied in the flag, while the other seems almost embarrassed by unhesitating love of country. A battle between bellicose bravado and genuine timidity is no contest.

Political campaigns are about winning you over, and this is one place where pursuing happiness should be less conceptual and more concrete: What is being said that is meaningful to your life? Who is most likely to look out for you in dealing with the array of unexpected events and crises that inevitably will arise?

As for elections, you have one genuine patriotic duty: Show up. It would make a good bumper sticker: Stand Up. Speak Up. Show Up.

Thomas Jefferson, another 18th Century essayist, wrote: “The government you elect is the government you deserve.”

Voter participation is at historically disgraceful lows, and this at a time when dissatisfaction with government is rampant.

It is almost a columnist’s cliché to urge people to vote, and I can hear the click of rolling eyeballs. But the people who make their livings in elections know that voting is the only thing that matters, the only thing that will bring about real change.

Consider a recent comment by retiring U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo. She was among 12 departing members of Congress who were posed a series of questions by The New York Times about their time in federal government.

Eshoo, who has been my friend for more than 45 years, long before she ran for Congress, is exactly what we were taught in civics — back when they taught civics — to expect from our elected officials. Serious. Bipartisan. Honored to serve.

She was asked, along with her colleagues: “How do you fix Congress?”

Her reply: “Well, it’s the American people who have to fix the Congress.”

On this Fourth of July, honor our history by committing to show up. Vote. In every race. It is a pure act of patriotism. It is our continuing revolution. Indeed, it is the most revolutionary thing you can do.

Mark Simon is a veteran journalist, whose career included 15 years as an executive at SamTrans and Caltrain. He can be reached at marksimon@smdailyjournal.com.