July 4: Independence Day. The people of the United States remember the events that culminated n 1776 with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Primarily written by the humanist Unitarian, Thomas Jefferson, the famous words of the declaration have become the hallmark of patriotism for citizens of the United States:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
As I consider the history of the 236 year old United States, I am struck by the way great decisions were made to support the self-evident right of people’s pursuit of happiness. There are obvious examples of the way the government has supported this right, even when it led to social discord, such as in Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and Lyndon Johnson’s vision of a “Great Society” that included the War on Poverty. But there were also federal acts that led to significant improvements in the lives of people and empowered their right to pursue happiness that we often forget. Among them was Homestead Act of 1862 which was expanded in 1909.
To help settle the frontier, Congress and several presidents enacted legislation that gave large parcels of land to anyone who wanted it. Land was given to citizens as well as recent immigrants. The only requirement was that the land be improved. If the land was improved over a period of time, i.e., if a home was built, if land was cleared for a farm, or if it was in any way developed, then the title of the land was given to the claimant. Yes, the government gave away public land for free. The Homestead Act was essential to the development of the country as it lifted people out of poverty and gave them lives of self-sufficiency. The end of homesteading came in 1988 (just 24 years ago) when Ken Deardorff was presented with the title of 80 acres of land in Alaska. The Homestead Act was part of government policy for more than half of U.S. history and supported by various political parties.
What the Homestead Act did was provide people with a way to pursue happiness. It enabled ordinary folks to have a home and create a way of life for themselves. The ability to pursue happiness was possible for thousands upon thousands of people because the government provided a way for it to happen.
Indeed, the Homestead Act benefited people because those people took responsibility for their lives and worked. Many lost their lives on the frontier. Many failed at the endeavor of homesteading. But they had the opportunity to succeed. That opportunity was given to them by the government.
I don’t disagree with those who say that personal responsibility is essential for success in life. Personal responsibility is a vital element for maintaining physical health, mental health, spiritual growth, and financial success. But on its own, it is not sufficient for any of the things I’ve listed. Personal responsibility can only be helpful when there is an opportunity for health, happiness, and success.
All four of my grandparents immigrated to the United States from Eastern Europe. Their ethos has characterized my family’s life. That ethos can be summed up in a simple concept: give us the opportunity and we’ll work for it. As immigrants to the United States proved generation after generation, when there is an opportunity, people demonstrate personal responsibility and work toward their success.
On this Fourth of July, what frightens me most about the United States is that we are becoming a country without opportunity. While the United States has a history of writing laws that opened doors for people, today hardliners support laws that serious limit people. We no longer strive toward a vision of a great society but focus on the greatness of corporations. We no longer wage war on poverty but blame the poor for our problems. We no longer view immigrants as the key to our future because of the hard work and specialized skills they bring but blame immigrants for our failures. Ultimately, we base our politics on half-truths while also insisting that personal responsibility can exist without opportunity and that liberty can exist without responsibility.
On this Independence Day, I draw hope from the history of the United States. Our history is characterized by example after example of government creating opportunities for people even when those choices were unpopular. Such government intervention made this country great. That, I believe, was part of the vision of that secular humanist, Thomas Jefferson, who stated so plainly that it should be evident to everyone that all are created equal and all have basic rights for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I look forward to the day when the United States corrects its present course and protects those rights just as it has done in the past.