Whither American Virtues?

His generous Hospitality to Strangers according to his Ability, his Goodness, his Charity, his Courage in the Cause of the Oppressed, his Fidelity in Friendship, his Humility, his Honesty and Sincerity, his Moderation and his Loyalty to the Government, his Piety, his Temperance, his Love to Mankind, his Magnanimity, his Publick-spiritedness, and in fine, his Consummate Virtue, make him justly deserve to be esteem'd the Glory of his Country.

--Ben Franklin, writing as N.B. Cretico in The American Weekly Mercury, February 18, 1728/9

The current craze among progressives is over memes and framing--everyone appears to agree that progressives have been unsuccessful at getting their philosophical message into circulation; the debate rages on about how best to accomplish this goal.

I say we turn to those characteristics that are already tucked deep in our national psyches. The 18th and 19th centuries saw a veritable cottage industry of folks working to define those aspects of character that are demonstrably "American." Ben Franklin gave us Poor Henry's Almanac, a how-to guide to living the American character. The various editions of McGuffey's Readers gave students an evolving but decidedly American moral education. Mark Twain sought to capture the American spirit in fiction and essay. De Tocqueville incisively studied the character of the Americans of the Early Republic.

Look at the words in the quote above: goodness, charity, courage in the cause of the oppressed, fidelity in friendship, piety, temperance, and on and on. Aren't those some of the central characteristics any American would want to be known for, at home and abroad?

To list some of these words:

• Charity
• Equality
• Frugality
• Generosity
• Hopefulness
• Humility
• Independence
• Industry (hard work)
• Integrity
• Justice
• Liberty
• Loyalty
• Moderation
• Patience
• Patriotism
• Piety
• Public-mindedness
• Self-reliance
• Study
• Toleration

Don't these capture the American spirit--and don't so many of them resonate with the progressive mindset? If the Democratic Party won't use them, perhaps the Phoenix Party* can.

An essay could be written about any one of them and how they coincide with progressive principles, and I'll cover several of them in blogs over the next few weeks.

The great thing about these is that not only do they resonate in many American hearts, they require that anyone so labelled to actually walk the walk (and not simply use these as marketing slogans). Principles first, then policies, and only then the spread of the message.

Find me a political party that lives the simple slogan: American Virtues. Then I will be a happy citizen.

"There are many men of principle in both parties in America," said Alexis de Tocqueville, "but there is no party of principle."

It's time for that to change.

Aequitas

* Phoenix Party--whatever party should rise from the ashes of the Democratic Party's defeat in the 2004 elections, be that a more moderate Democratic Party or a new party altogether.