Consider nation’s history, search for equality
In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson and the drafters stated: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
That was in 1776. For the next almost 100 years, that assertion of philosophy was tested, to see whether it meant only white men from Protestant families. Did it apply to women? What about the African Americans recognized as slaves by the Constitution adopted in 1789?
From the adoption of the founding documents to the Civil War, the basic principle was tested and opposed, resulting in the war between the states. During and after the Civil War, the Constitution was amended by the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, eliminating slavery and guaranteeing their rights on state and federal levels.
After all that, the erosion of equality expanded with the erosion of rights in the Southern states, and the rise of candidates who supported “states’ rights,” which could be equated to supporting male, white rights, not equality. The opposition to rights by those opposing the efforts to give African Americans any power in the last half of the 1800s clearly refuted support for the principles in the Declaration.
In the 20th century, first the Democratic Party, influenced greatly by the Southern states, pushed inequality, not equality of those citizens’ rights, opposing Black citizens’ rights to vote or participate in the life of the nation. Later, Republicans began to pick up the torch of opposing minority or immigrant rights on one basis or another.
All of these political movements have denied the American dream of equality. There have been waves in each direction over time, but until 1954 when the Supreme Court decided the desegregation case, Brown v. Board of Education, and the states were required to provide desegregated education, it seemed those against equality were in the ascension.
Since 1960, with Kennedy and Johnson, and then Nixon and Ford, rights swayed back and forth. Support for the proposition that “all men are created equal” including women was given support in civil rights laws, open housing laws and other enactments, but those supporting the “Southern strategy” and seeking votes from those sectors feeling threatened by newcomers were gaining power.
The Republican Party, founded on the principles of eliminating slavery, in the mid-20th century, started to support the opposition to equality and the support for exclusion. This led to today with Donald Trump casting aspersions on those coming into America, and accusing those from the Southern Hemisphere of being criminals and inviting those from Scandinavia as preferred immigrants.
Heather Cox Richardson’s book “Democracy Awakening: Notes of the State of America” is a serious study of the history of the nation’s struggle with equality, in the face of slavery, women’s rights and other forms of discrimination. It also traces the descent of the Republican Party from the advocate for equality of all, to the party of Trump and hate. Anyone contemplating a vote for Trump, on the spurious basis of “preference for policies” should read this book and examine his/her consciences to see what he/she actually believes.
Those considering voting for Mr. Trump should also read “Oath and Honor” by former Rep. Liz Cheney. This volume, a play-by-play depiction of the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is a serious examination of what happened, how it was experienced from within the Capitol building, and then, in the face of the truth they had experienced, how many elected officials brushed it off, ignored the truth and supported the lies being proffered by Trump and his apologists.
Those who came to Cheney and told her she was right, and then voted the other way should be instructive to all citizens. Naming names of those ineligible to be considered leaders or statesmen is troubling when compared to past leaders.
Read these books. Consider the history of our nation and its march to the search for equality, the goal set forth in the Declaration. Our country is constantly evolving, and to say time is up and we have to vote for an authoritarian who says no more progress is right or possible, is to deny the progress we have seen and need to support. The basic question today, as before, is whether we believe in the proposition of equality, or not.
After reading these books, the first question which should be asked of presidential candidates in a debate this year is:
“Mr. Candidate, the Declaration of Independence states that, ‘we believe these principles are self-evident … that all men are created equal.’ Do you agree with this basic principle?”
I am finished asking people to listen to me in voting, but if they will read the two books cited above and the principles set forth in them, I believe that there is no way voting for Trump will be acceptable on the basis of policy or otherwise. Think about it, read the books, and please, help save your country!
Brad Cook is a Manchester attorney. The views expressed in this column are his own. He can be reached at bradfordcook01@gmail.com.
