Observations by Joe Tobin, SDC Member, February 5, 2019
A month ago I was browsing through Books a Million when I passed a book that stared me in the face and entitled, American Colonies: The Settling of North America (Alan Taylor.) Being the wimp I am, I bought it. When I finished it, I realized how much detailed information the author provided about the roles of Spain, France and England in shaping of the colonization of the western hemisphere. The author focused primarily on three primary geographic sectors — North, South and Mid-Atlantic — and each of their approaches to governance, economies, religions, politics, social classes, slavery, native tribes and the environment. In short, the book was well-written, fast-moving and pleasurable to read.
A very obvious theme ran through many of the chapters: it was no easy life to be a colonist, slave or native in the seventeen and eighteen centuries. Early deaths from disease, massacres and childbirth, paying the bills, feeding families and adapting to new environments. The “one-percenters” and the ruling class were present in the colonies the divisions caused dissensions at times. It should also be noted that the sea voyages from Europe were also quite treacherous and deadly – not for the faint-hearted. Civil and human rights, particularly executions, were quite primitive by today’s standards.
By the time of the pre- and post- Revolutionary War period, a good number of colonists were familiar with the political thought coming from England, Scotland and France, the written constitutions of the colonies and the writings of such men as Jay, Madison, Jefferson and Paine. From such writings, the founding fathers inserted into the beginning of the Constitution the following statement that would be the ethical and moral standards to benefit human life in American society.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
As we all know, ideals and reality do not always mesh. The history of the United States reflects a good a dark side to it. Blood and guts goes hand in hand with generosity and prosperity. Fortunately, the provisions of the Constitution and the blood, sweat and tears of so many courageous and persistent people of the past have given us, the present generation of Americans, many social benefits.
Since the 1960s American policies and attitudes have changed drastically – civil rights, gay rights, women’s rights, domestic and child abuse, working conditions, integration of the military services, the environment, health care, the disabled, and so on. Most Americans would agree that they would not want to turn the clock back to the “old days.” And we owe much to those Americans who made these changes possible.
Today, it is our turn to continue the generous spirit of the past and leave a positive legacy to the future citizenry who may include children and grandchildren. This writer also salutes the many members of the Solivita Democratic Club who have made their own contributions to the betterment of our public institutions and private charities and for many contributions that go unnoticed. As the year 2019 starts, there is also room for club members to take on a specific project that will make a positive difference in the social character of our community of those living in America.
