The Axiomatic Character of American National Identity

The U2 song "Bullet the Blue Sky" (from the album The Joshua Tree) perhaps sums up the axiomatic character of American National Identity.

On the one hand, we are truly "land of the free, home of the brave." We have freedom of the press (somewhat eroding under both corporate and governmental "Big Brother" watching over it all of the time). We are a brave people, whether it is the U.S. Marine Corps doing the dirty job of killing the Taliban so that we can sip our Starbucks in Manhattan in safety OR the brave Pro-Life movement (with leaders such as Randall Terry and George W. Bush and Antonin Scalia) bravely "bucking the trend" of viewing babies as disposal cargo who can be killed if a pregnancy ever gets in the way of attending Harvard's Ph.D. program.

In U2's "Bullet the Blue Sky," such freedom and bravery are nevertheless exposed to a paradoxical critique. The same nation that sided with Lech Walesa in helping to overthrow communism in the formerly Soviet Eastern bloc countries is also the country that has sided with Latin American fascism in its efforts to eradicate communism from the Globe. In one poignant guitar-rift, the Edge (U2's guitarist) belts out this angry cord of justice-seeking in reference to the content of the song, namely the U.S.'s support of fascism in El Salvador during the 1980's. "Pounding of the women and children, pounding of the women and children . . . who run, into the arms, of America."

Yes, America, the beautiful land of freedom is also the land, that at times has supported the wrong side in world diplomacy. Yes, Marxism is virulently anti-American (much worse, anti-Christian!), and so Pope Benedict XVI is correct in silencing theologians who are ideologically Marxist (i.e. Liberation Theologians). Yes, Marxism should be opposed by the United States. But in confronting one enemy, one should not embrace another! The devilish hand of Marxism should not be fought with the unmerciful hand of neo-fascism, neither the Latin American nor the Western European version (e.g. the Minutemen Militia who opposed Mexican immigration due to racism rather than true concern for securing our national borders against drug runners and Al Qaida). "The pounding of the women and children, the pounding of the women and children . . . who run into the arms of America."

Truly, our Nation State will prosper to the extent that we welcome refugees from war-torn lands. Lands such as the Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan will produce the next generation of cab drivers, coffee shop owners, and indeed the next Senators and Congressman of the new America. From South Korea, the Christian Church has received the flame of the Holy Spirit and proud South Korean clergymen now serve as Chaplains in our U.S. Armed Forces. "Yo te quiero" is no longer the sound of Latin American love-making alone, but instead is the Tele Savalas meets Ricky Martin "La Vida Loca" nuevo romantico of the United States. To be Latin is to be a lover, not to be a destitute orange grove migrant worker.

No, America has prospered to the extent that we have welcomed and incorporated the many unique threads of world cultures into our fabric of National Identity. And for people escaping the ravages of state-supported terror (El Salvador in the 1980's) or the pernicious appeal of Marxist ideology (Cuba in the late 20th and early 21st century), such FREEDOM and BRAVERY it turns out are QUITE APPEALING! In fact, some of the bravest U.S. soldiers I know come from places such as India, the Philippines, Africa or Latin America. TRUE BLUE Americans, willing to fight and die for their country.

Won't you now join with me in insuring for these brave men and women who immigrated to the United States that the U.S.A. that we know and love will always be worth dying for . . .

Pro Deo et Patria ("For God and Country")
Rob J King, concerned American