We Must Disenthrall Ourselves

We Must Disenthrall Ourselves

Saving American Democracy
 
John Winthrop's famous “City Upon a Hill” sermon has long been a touchstone for U.S. Presidents, invoked to underscore America's core values as a liberal democracy and its role as a global exemplar.  This ideal, central to the notion of American exceptionalism, posits the United States as a unique nation with an extraordinary destiny.
 
This vision has underpinned the idea of America as a pluralistic society, where diverse religious beliefs—or the absence thereof—can coexist.  As we navigate the remainder of 2024, we must reassess the importance of robust journalistic standards that support democracy rather than exacerbate political and cultural divisions.
 
The proliferation of sensationalist media and politicians who exploit our deepest fears for profit must end.  As citizens, we must reject this manipulative model and heed Abraham Lincoln's 1862 Annual Address to Congress instead.  Lincoln urged us to "disenthrall ourselves" from destructive patterns.
 
“We can succeed only by concert. . . . The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present.  The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise—with the occasion.  As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew.  We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country.
 
Fellow-citizens, we cannot escape history.  We of this Congress and this administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves.  No personal significance, or insignificance, can spare one or another of us.  The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation.”
 
— Abraham Lincoln, December 1, 1862, Annual Message to Congress
 
 
The cultural wars and extreme politics in the United States have eroded American values and ideals, posing a threat to democracy.  These cultural conflicts—over academic freedom, education, immigration, women's healthcare, LGBTQ+ rights,  gender, race relations, and religious freedom—are marked by intense partisanship and a lack of compromise.
 
Extreme rhetoric and polarization have degraded civil discourse and trust in democratic institutions.  Conspiracy theories and disinformation further undermine confidence in the democratic process and citizens' ability to make informed decisions.  America's pluralistic foundation is at risk as the value of diverse beliefs and worldviews is disregarded.  Protecting human rights within our democracy is paramount.
 
Both far-right and far-left factions in the Republican and Democratic parties have failed to reach consensus on critical issues like immigration reform, climate change, economic inequality, and healthcare reform.  The rise of authoritarian and anti-democratic movements, both domestically and abroad, is facilitated by this erosion of American values and the failure of democratic institutions to address all citizens' needs.
 
America's global adversaries, authoritarian governments, are actively interfering in our society and politics to diminish our democratic influence.  Democracy matters immensely.
 
As the 2024 election cycle approaches, we must consider which candidates will invoke Winthrop’s metaphor of America as a shining city upon a hill or Americans as shining points of light.  Who will rise to heal our divisions and remind us of our collective identity?  Where will we find leadership that fosters bipartisan governance?
 
We might do well to recall Carl Sandburg’s poem “The Long Shadow of Lincoln: A Litany.”The refrain “We must disenthrall ourselves” echoes Lincoln's call for new thinking and acting from his 1862 message to Congress.  Sandburg urges us to break free from dogma and tradition, embracing change and progress.  The poem ends on a hopeful note, with the image of a “whitesmoke ghost” representing Lincoln and the dream of a world where all people are equal and free.
 
“The Long Shadow of Lincoln: A Litany” is a poignant tribute to those who sacrificed for a better world while acknowledging ongoing challenges.  Sandburg's vivid imagery, repetition, and call-and-response structure evoke a powerful sense of communal remembrance and solidarity.
 
“with the low healing song of time, / the hush and sleep murmur of time.  / Make your wit a guard and cover.”
 
“There are wounds past words.  / There are cripples less broken / than many who walk whole.”
 

Ron Starbuck
Publisher - CEO
Saint Julian Press, Inc.
Houston, Texas

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