The American Experiment: A Saint Julian Press Retelling

DEMOCRACY MATTERS

The American Experiment: A Saint Julian Press Retelling
 
In the grand tapestry of American history, we must revisit the noble intentions of our Founders.  Today, citizen and candidate Donald J. Trump behaves like an emperor, exerting an alarming influence over the Republican Party that starkly contrasts with our democratic norms and heritage, endangering national security and global leadership.  His controversial remarks on NATO worry our European allies, while his favoritism towards Putin and opposition to aiding Ukraine reveal a dangerous trajectory.  This moment, reminiscent of 1939, demands our unwavering attention.
 
Trump's recent actions, including his stance on NATO and his manipulation of Republican legislators to block bipartisan border security and asylum reform bills, are deeply troubling.  His ambition to center his 2024 campaign around these issues undermines the nation.  Like decrees from an imperial throne, his dictates erode our democratic values.  His authority often goes unchallenged by his base and most Republican lawmakers, save for a few exceptions.
 
Once a party that championed global leadership for national welfare, the GOP is now driven by the whims of a narcissistic leader who lacks true strength of character.  This is a man who idolizes the world's bullies and strongmen.
 
Yet, the threat to our democratic fabric extends beyond Trump.  The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025poses a formidable challenge to American democracy by attempting to augment presidential power to an alarming extent, akin to a king or emperor.  This project aims to dismantle the checks and balances inherent in the U.S. Constitution, undermining the structure designed to prevent the concentration of power.
 
Forget the genteel English-style tea parties and ancient parchments.  America’s birth wasn’t a polite disagreement with the Crown but a psyche-shredding rebellion.  During the Age of Enlightenment, our Founders, haunted by the specter of monarchy, didn’t just swap out a king for a more democratic symbol; they dismantled the idea of divinely ordained rule.  This is the raw truth etched into our national DNA.  We must again remind ourselves and “Citizen Trump” of this noble rebellion by denying him access to the Oval Office.
 
Donald Trump is not a divinely anointed savior.  He is a man devoid of higher vision or wisdom.  As Proverbs 29:18 states: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
 
Consider the Federalist Papers, not as academic bedtime stories but as fiery pamphlets against monarchy.  Hamilton and Madison, our intellectual rock stars, envisioned a government where power wasn’t a glittering crown jewel but an aggressive, three-headed beast, each head checking the others' ambitions.  They warned us about narcissistic despots and demagogues.  For Americans in revolutionary times, this was their middle finger to the King and all who desired to be king, a rebellion still echoing in their bones.
 
Scholars and filmmakers like Burns and Novick have shown us the Founders’ delicate balance.  They sought a steady hand, a captain for the state, but not an emperor.  So, they created a system of checks and balances, akin to one of Benjamin Franklin’s inventions, designed to prevent power from mutating into tyranny.  Trump has shown that he would erase these checks and balances, his thirst for autocratic power is unquenchable, and he emulates the authoritarian strongmen he admires.
 
Abandoning monarchs wasn’t about efficiency; it was about rejecting inherited power.  The American Revolution wasn’t a fancy dress party gone awry but a repudiation of the “divine right of kings” elitism.  The Founders envisioned a nation where authority flowed not from a bloodline but from the people.  They built a republic, a messy, beautiful tapestry of individual rights and self-rule.
 
The Federalist Papers warned about the mob’s fickle nature, not just about fearing kings but also unchecked power in any form.  The Constitution wasn’t a simple legal guide but a rebuke to both kings and mob rule.  It was a nuanced approach to power, informed by the scars of absolute authority.  This is the foundation of our national identity, a testament to the Founders' foresight and our ongoing struggle to be “we the people.”
 
Our culture wars and political extremism threaten national security and global leadership.  We must, through our voices and votes, reject all forms of authoritarianism and autocracy.  We must support Ukraine’s fight for freedom against Putin.  Failing to do so will erode American values and liberties, diminishing our international influence.  The world depends on our democratic resilience.  We must preserve democracy for future generations and the world.
 
Let us renew our commitment to freedom and liberty, a heritage that benefits all humanity.  We must resist political fatigue and continue our resolve, passing the torch to a new generation.  This American Revolution is far from over.

Ron Starbuck, Publisher/CEO/Executive Editor
Saint Julian Press, Inc., Houston, Texas © 2024

Saint Julian Press Suggested Readings & Books
 
 
Echoes of Barmen
 
Hope Over Fear
 
An American Experiment: A Saint Julian Press Retelling
 
We Must Think and Act Anew
 
America: Blest Be the Tie That Binds
 
From Dogma to Democracy: How Enlightenment Ignited the American Spirit
 
The Radical Love of Jesus: A Call for Compassion
 
We Are Citizens of the World
 
We Must Disenthrall Ourselves
 
A Threat to American Democracy
 
The Shining City Upon the Hill
 
Citizen — C. Andrew Doyle (Ninth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas)
 
And There Was Light — Jon Meacham