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Right from the Middle: Our Democratic Republic has done much for the world
Since 1776, America has been a beacon of freedom for the world. Our Democratic Republic has done much for the people of the world writes former Congressman Bill Lipinski in his “Right from the Center” opinion column
By Bill Lipinski
Every once in a while, we have to stop and remember what this Land of Liberty and Fortress of Freedom we call the United States of America has done for mankind and civilization.
Ever since its birth in 1776, the USA has been the beacon of freedom, democracy, and achievement that the rest of the world has envied and aspired to duplicate.
Let’s consider some of the achievements made by our Democratic Republic for mankind. I believe the most important concept is the inherent and universal right of revolution proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence – the doctrine that “all men are created equal” possessing “unalienable rights” to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” with the guiding principle that governments receive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” And that therefore, the people have the right to remove a government destructive of these ends replace it with one which they believe most likely to protect their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Another bedrock principle of our Democratic Republic also made clear in the founding of this nation by the founding fathers is freedom of religion – a principle unfortunately much under attack today.
The recognition that the relations between man and his creator are a private affair into which government must not intrude contravened the age-long European practice of Uniting Church and State and imposing harsh restrictions on dissenters.
The founding fathers also stated time after time that the underlying philosophy of this Democratic Republic was that the common man was not all wise, but that only he can govern himself better than anyone else can do it for him.
The principles of our revolution inspired people across Europe to try to replace their dictatorial and repressive forms of governments with governments of the people, for the people and by the people, a government like ours.
Another contribution by America to mankind and civilization was the introduction of public school for all, financed by taxes paid by all citizens – it was believed that if people were going to govern themselves, they had to be informed and educated to do it properly.
We corrected a terrible mistake made at the founding of this country by fighting a brutal bloody Civil War to correct that mistake.
The results of that civil war enabled a black man to become president of United States and a black woman to be elected vice president of our “land of the pilgrims’ pride” and gave many many more back men and women an opportunity to achieve success in this the greatest nation the world has ever known. We fought and were principally responsible for winning two World Wars, thereby saving civilization and mankind. No other nation in the history of the world has spent its financial treasure and the treasure of its youth saving mankind and civilization.
After World War II, we rebuilt Europe, particularly Germany and Japan. With our occupation of those two countries, we gave them a democratic government.
Today both of those countries have thriving democracies and their highest standard of living in their history. We fought a 50-year Cold War against the most evil force in the history of the world – international communism -and once again we prevailed for civilization and mankind.
Today we are still the number one economic and military force in the history of the world. We grow more food than any nation on earth and export an enormous amount to help feed the rest of the world.
Our country has made countless other achievements and accomplishments for man and civilization, including: the invention of the Internet, the telephone, television, microchips, transistors, photocopiers, the electric light bulb, powered flight, power steering, cell phones, submarines, mass production, lasers, plastic, nuclear reactors, electric air conditioning, digital cameras and video.
We built the greatest healthcare system in the world, and shared it with all of mankind. We laid the Transoceanic cable, built the Panama Canal, and placed the first man on the moon. The United States of America’s contributions and achievements for civilization and mankind have been unlimited and incalculable.
My Betsy Ross flag is flying high, my tri-corner hat is off, and my trusty old colonial musket is raised in salute to the greatest country and greatest people the world has ever known – the United States of America and its citizens.
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Lipinski writes the "Right from the Middle" Column twice each month.
Born in Chicago, Cook County, Ill and graduated fromSt. Patrick High School, Chicago, Ill., 1956; attended Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, 1956-1957; United States Army Reserves, 1961-1967.
Lipinski was elected alderman, Chicago, Ill., city council, 1975-1982; He was a delegate to: the Democratic National Midterm Convention, 1974; Democratic National Convention, 1976 and 1984; Illinois state Democratic convention, 1977.
He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-eighth and to the ten succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1983-January 3, 2005)
His email is [email protected]
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