WHY AMERICA CAN'T FIX HER PROBLEMS

 Classicist, Carl J. Richard, points out that there are four things that unite a country: a common book, a common language, a common religion, and a common sport. Without those, a nation isn't unified; it's broken into clashing factions. Without unity, a country cannot solve its problems. 

The lack of unity: We do not agree on the definition of marriage. We do not agree on the number of genders (some say 2, others say 112). We do not agree on when human life begins. We do not agree on whether or not our Constitution is a living, evolving document (and therefore putty in the hands of the interpreter) or a document whose meaning is found as originally written. We do not agree on the definition of a human being. We do not agree on our history, the founding of our country. We do not agree on truth: absolute or relative? And is there such a thing as objective truth? We don't agree.

In her September 11, 2020 essay, "Gina Baleria, assistant professor of Media and Journalism at Sonoma State University, expanded on the idea to rethink objectivity, and encouraged journalism professors and teachers to emphasize context:

The ‘facts’ and ‘truth’ that have generally been deemed objective are actually centered on a mainstream, white, male, able-bodied, cis-gendered perspective [a person whose sense of personal identity and gender corresponds with their birth sex] – not actually objective or neutral at all. (Jenna Stocker)

We no longer have a common book. As a case in point, let's go back to a 1947 movie, "The Bishop's Wife." In the film, Cary Grant, an angel, is sent to help a bishop and his family. During the movie, the angel has some quality time with the young daughter of the family during which he sits on the floor with the child, and as her parents watch, he begins to tell her the story of David with his slingshot, killing a lion. Then he tells the little girl that David composed a song which Cary Grant relates the song from a Book common to Americans at that time--the song being Psalm 23, recited in it's entirety. 

Another case in point: from 1965-2000, CBS broadcast "A Charlie Brown Christmas whose plot is that  Charlie Brown is struggling to find out what Christmas is all about. His struggle makes him ask the question, "Isn't there anyone who could tell me what Christmas is all about?" His best friend Linus and his trusty protective blanket then take to the stage and ask to dim the lights. He then recites Luke 2:8-14 from our common Book.

Or how about every student in the 5th grade in the public schools looking forward to receiving a copy of the common Book--the New Testament from the Gideons. Going back much farther, "imported English Bibles were perhaps the most widely owned books in the colonies. Bibles and Books of Common Prayer of the Church of England are listed in Virginia estate inventories more than any other book."

Or this: "While the nation was ripped apart by Civil War, the American Bible Society (ABS) endeavored to spread the word of God by passing out pocket Bibles to soldiers in the Union and Confederate armies. In December 1861, the ABS was printing, shipping and distributing 7,000 pocket New Testaments a day to soldiers in the field." ("The Sun Herald")

And this: "During WWII, the New Testament, Protestant Version, was issued by The Army Of The United States with a United States Of America War Office seal on the front cover. A preface dated March 6, 1941, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, commending the reading of the Bible to all who serve in the armed forces of the United States." ("CW Collectors Weekly"). 

And this: Today, federal employees are instructed that if they have a Bible, it can't be in plain view on their desks. Today, no Gideon brings a Bible into a 5th grade classroom. Walt Tutka, of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, was suspended for 90 days, then fired for giving his Bible to a student who had asked him for one, a private, voluntary, unforced transaction. He was later reinstated by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to his substitute teaching position. Nonetheless, Mr. Tutka was put through an ordeal for giving a Bible to a kid who wanted one. 

Conclusion: America has no common book.

We no longer have a common religion. "A statistical study of mosques in the United States shows that the number of Islamic houses of worship has increased 74 percent since 2000. The study also showed that mosque leaders believe the United States is generally friendly to Islam, that attendance at weekly prayer has increased during that time, and that the faithful attending mosques has increased 30 percent." (From "The New American")

"One percent fewer Americans each year claim a Christian affiliation, that marks decline. When most denominations and congregations report declining membership and attendance, that marks decline. When more and more congregations close their doors forever, that marks decline. And when the youngest generation shows the greatest disaffiliation trend, that marks a decline likely to have lasting impact." (From "Religion News Service")

In April 2019, we were surprised to learn. "For the first time 'No Religion' has topped a survey of Americans' religious identity. The non-religious edged out Catholics and evangelicals in the long-running General Social Survey." 

Conclusion: Christianity is no longer America's common religion.

We no longer have a common language. Look at California: "At least 220 languages are spoken in California, and 44% of residents of the Bear Republic speak a language other than English at home. Seven million Californians say they cannot speak English well." 

In California, voters are able to request a ballot written in Arabic, Armenian, Hmong, Korean, Persian, Spanish, Syriac or Tagalog, among other languages. If voters can't speak or understand English, how can they understand the issues and what candidate stands for? 

In the Syracuse City school district in 2017, students spoke 72 different languages. Writing or speaking using a common language with (mostly) agreed-upon definitions for words is the key to communicating and understanding ideas. Even abstract ideas like emotions and feelings can be communicated using commonly accepted forms of grammar. 

Moving to the Land of Lincoln, 35% of Cook County residents speak a language other than English at home. In October 2019, the Cook County Board of Commissioners in Illinois passed an ordinance to furnish voters with fully translated ballots in eight new languages for the November 3, 2020, elections. (It already provides ballots in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Hindi.)

Rich Lowery, editor of "National Review," writes, "Nice, pleasant Canada has been nearly torn apart in recent decades by the presence of a French-speaking province, Quebec, in an English-speaking country. .  .  Where a common language is present, it creates a cultural glue; where it isn’t, there are usually deep-seated divisions."

We no longer have a common language that unites us. 

We no longer have a common sport. "Psychology Today" pointed out the unifying factors of sport. "Fans wear the team colors and carry its flags, icons, and mascots. Then there is repetitive chanting of team encouragement, hand-clapping, booing the other team, doing the wave. The singing of an anthem at a sporting event has the psychological effect [of uniting people]. 

When sports are politicized, they no longer unite. (To politicize something is to use it as a platform for a political cause.) In American sports today, singing "The Star Spangled Banner" no longer unites; it divides us deeply as our sports heroes kneel or refuse to even listen to others singing it. 

Conclusion: We no longer have a common sport to unit us.

The unity of Israel was important to God and He gave them a common Book (the Old Testament), a common religion (specified in the book of Leviticus), a common language (Hebrew), and common events that united them (The Day of Atonement, The Passover Meal, the Sabbath, and six different festivals). 

This is why America can't fix her problems: there is no common book to which people look for the truth. Christianity is no longer the common "religion." Our language, once infused with the Bible is now censored. To their hardened and closed minds there's no objective truth to which to refer to fix anything. Anything goes.

For America, the train has left the station; the ship has already sailed. We are falling down the slippery slope. The motto, "E pluribis unum" suggested by the committee Congress appointed on July 4, 1776 to design a seal for the United States of America, is dead. The seal no longer seals.