Out of Many, One

Out of Many, One

Someone from somewhere else in the world was trolling a posting I made on social media and left this statement.

— "America is so fragmented and disunited now, that Americans are incapable of getting behind their national leaders in this crisis when it comes to coordinating a critical response on the Russian invasion of Ukraine."

They see America as fragmented, weak, illiberal, and disunited by our culture wars; a nation at war within itself and across the land. They were referring to comments made by many from the far-right media and some political leaders in support of Putin's actions towards Ukraine, as well as such comments on social media. These are folks who are echoing Russian talking points, propaganda, and misinformation. There is a lot of noise out there and some very bad players in the media and political body, hoping to capitalize on this crisis. They are wrong.

I want to believe that in the end America's resolve and love for liberty will always be present, and that we will come together as a people. Historically, this is who we are as nation and as a democracy. This is who we are as a people. This is who we are as Americans.

E Pluribus Enum - Out of Many, One.

Liberal Democracies, also known as Western Democracies, hold in common values based on the rights of the individual, liberty, consent of the governed and equality before the law. Liberal Democracies operate under an elected representative form of government. They are marked by elections between political parties, a separation of powers, branches of government, the rule of law, an open society, a free market economy, private property, and the equal protection of human rights, civil rights, voting rights, civil liberties, and political freedoms for all people regardless of sex, race, or our ethnic and cultural origins.

Democracies are messy and by their very nature always seek a consensus, and consensus simple takes time to build. This is no less true across and among the 30-member nation states and democracies that make up NATO, and the broader European Community - European Union (EC/EU).

Building that consensus and collaboration takes enormous diplomatic skill sets and statecraft; the fine art of conducting state affairs. The United States has done an amazing and remarkable job of uniting NATO during this Ukraine crisis. The whole world has been watching how we have come together in unity. This unity has not gone unnoticed or been lost by our allies or our adversaries.  We need to do more; we need to stand together in an even greater unity.  We need to support American leadership and readily embrace a servant leadership role within the world.

As a reminder, NATO's Article 5, commits each member state to consider an armed attack against one member state, in Europe or North America, to be an armed attack against them all. Article 5 has been invoked only once in NATO history: by the United States after the September 11 attacks in 2001. Our NATO allies stood beside America in that terrible time of grief and need. Now they face the possibility of a similar threat, we need to be there for our European allies and for what democracy means to humanity.

It is not beyond reason that Putin will eventually target the Baltic nations and former Warsaw Pact nations to create a new Russian Empire. We must stay watchful and vigilant on what new steps Putin may take. His goal is to keep democracy from spreading into Russia. His goal is to see democracy fail, wherever it exists within the world.

As U. S. citizens it is our job to understand this dynamic and its importance to our national and world security, and to honor our global alliances and commitments. By doing so, we practice and stand by our democratic values, and make the world a safer place in which to live and for democracy to thrive and flourish. Knowing full well that democracy, as messy as it can be at times, offers humanity something more, an inclusive plurality and human diversity, something worth preserving and sustaining for future generations and the world.

Ukraine is not a member state of NATO, but if Putin-Russia were to cross into or threaten any NATO member state, Article 5 would be triggered and invoked. Showing our immediate resolve and unity at this time is something we can and should do together as a people.  It is an act of patriotism and defending our shared democratic values, as surely as it has been at every critical point in our nation's history.  Ukraine's pain, should be our won pain.  Ukraine's story of democracy, is our story of democracy. 

This is who we are as a nation and as a people, united under God, that many of us still hope and want to believe is true. However, we might imagine God to be at work within our own lives, our local communities, the nation, and within the world in a world without end.

This week I went to one of the early voting locations in Harris County to vote in the March 1st Texas primary. I picked the one closest to our home, Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Independence Heights. I did so intentionally, since it reminded me of being a Boy Scout, and earning the "God & Country" Scouting award some 56 years ago. I was practicing democracy by voting, in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and all the other democracies in the world. For me, it felt like a sacred duty and act, especially at this time in the world. 

Prayer for the President of the United States and all in Civil Authority
from the Book of Common Prayer

"O Lord our Governor, whose glory is in all the world: We commend this nation to thy merciful care, that, being guided by thy Providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to the President of the United States, and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen."

For Peace

"Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen."

For Peace Among the Nations

"Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen."

Whatever your faith or spiritual practice may be, these words echo a universal truth for all of humanity, across our shared human history. 



Many Blessings,

Ron Starbuck
Publisher - CEO
Saint Julian Press, Inc.



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