Except for Native Americans (and even they immigrated to North America from Asia) we have all come to America from other nations. So it is truth to say that we are truly a nation of immigrants. The motto on the Great Seal of the United States, E Pluribus Unum, reflects the diversity of people all coming together as one. The translation of the Latin phrase is “out of many, one”. It was also used to reflect the diversity of the original 13 states coming together under one federal government.

“I often note with equal pleasure that God gave this one connected country to one united people — a people descended from the same language, professing the same religion, attached to the same principles of government, very similar in manners and customs, who by their joint counsels, arms, and efforts, fighting side by side through a long bloody war, have nobly established general liberty and independence.” — John Jay, Federalist No. 2, 1787

Throughout the twentieth century America experienced a far more diverse influx of immigrants from around the world. Many from nations that do not share our Judeo-Christian values but up until the middle of the last century appreciated the freedom America offered them to live and worship freely according to their own religions free from discrimination. But with all this diversity there is a greater need for true assimilation in order for the nation to truly be unified in its defense of liberty.

Unity was the key to survival for the young nation after the war for independence and is today still the key to maintaining the nation. Those who seek to divide understand the key to destroying America is to divide and conquer from within. Our foundation as a nation was laid in Judeo-Christian principles which formed the structure of all our laws culminating in the Constitution.

There is a strong influential element attacking the foundations of the United States through media, education and public policy. This influence has brought about the destruction of personal responsibility, respect for life, the family, work ethic and morals. It seeks to divide us into many victim groups where everyone is offended by anyone who believes or says something with which each group disagrees. I have even heard “E Pluribus Unum” translated as “out of one, many” and that was from a liberal elected official. Our nation and its people have changed.

There is a reason so many people from around the world have immigrated to America. That reason is the liberty and freedom to pursue a better life. America, to the rest of the world, has always represented opportunity to succeed. It is this freedom of opportunity to pursue and create a better life that most of the world does not possess.

In America all are equal under the law. Equality of opportunity has always been available to those who are diligent, disciplined and willing to work hard. However, we are not guaranteed equal outcomes in life which many believe is not fair. So we hear a constant litany of “fairness” propaganda. But logic tells us that life is not fair and the sooner we can admit it and learn to deal with life’s ups and downs the better. These ups and downs are what develop character in us, if we let it.

The messages coming through the media and some politicians is that government can make life fair through progressive taxes and programs that give or redistribute wealth from those who appear to have more to those who have less. The new Common Core Education Standards is also an attempt to level the perceived inequality in education by lowering the standards for all students. Sadly, to some victim groups these failed policies are very appealing as a type of revenge to the “man” who kept them down (a type of reparation).

Thomas Jefferson in his first inaugural address, 1801 describes the proper role of good government in very plain terms:

“[A] wise and frugal government … shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government.”

This quote makes it clear that the American government as we know it has strayed far from his definition of “good government.”

Next Week: Part II

Dinner Table Discussion: Did God promise us life would be fair? What are we promised? (Hebrews 13:5; John 14:27)