Guest Commentary
by Fred Schnaubelt
June Gallup Poll: Only 47% extremely proud to be Americans, only 23% of liberals.
For most of my life the 4th of July meant a day off summer school, a day off work, a day at the beach, or a family picnic.
This 4th of July I reflected on how proud I am to be an American, and how lucky to be raised by a married mother and father (today’s White Privilege). But what does being an American mean when T-shirts proclaim, “Your founders were slave holders”?
Why do over a million legally immigrate to the U.S. each year? Ellis Island Museum: “I came to America because I heard the streets were paved with gold. When I got here, found three things: First, the streets weren’t paved with gold; second, they weren’t paved at all: and third, I was expected to pave them.” And still they come.
In Tunisia, Tarek el-Tayeb Mohamed Bouazizi was a street vendor who set himself on fire in response to the confiscation of his wares and humiliation inflicted on him by a government official in Tunisia. Imagine, committing suicide over a business license.
My wife, a Russian Émigré, was acquainted with a man imprisoned 7 years for having a secret manuscript of Dr. Zhivago. It was illegal to possess some books or even a Time Magazine. It was published in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) the month he was released. Imagine, no 1st Amendment and arrested for having a magazine or book.
In June 2013, a Vatican official said about 100,000 Christians are killed annually because of their faith. Imagine, no 1st Amendment freedom of religion.
In June 2016, the NY Times reported about 45.8 million people around the world were enslaved. Imagine, a slave today.
In 2017, a record 262 reporters were arrested, mostly for criticizing their governments, publishing “false news,” or Islamophobia. Imagine, no 1st Amendment freedom of speech or press.
In June 2018, women were allowed to drive by the Saudi government. Women in 155 countries are discriminated against, reports Amnesty International, prohibited from an education most are illiterate, and many subject to “honor killings.” Imagine, living in such a country.
How did governments come about: “The two theories of government?”
The first, in primitive times when men and women banded together to give up a nomadic life, settle in one spot there always seemed to be a persistent, band of marauders that periodically swooped down from the hills to pillage and plunder, confiscate crops and ride back into the hills. At some point the farmers said we’re farmers, not fighters and so they appointed a sheriff and eventually a Mayor, town council, congress, etc., etc. etc. Historically the reason governments were formed was to protect people and their property. If you saw on TV last week the Magnificent Seven you get the picture.
The second, in primitive times when men and women banded together to give up a nomadic life and settled in one spot there was always a persistent band of marauders that swooped in to pillage and plunder, confiscate crops and ride back into the hills. However, at one point in time the ruler of the marauders said it’s cold in them thar hills so let’s just settle amongst our victims and loot them on a systematic and ongoing basis—The annual tribute we collect we will call taxation.
Throughout history most governments were criminal enterprises where wealth and power were controlled by the few and ever since Plato — typically through a form of Socialism. Socialism’s common thread being no private property, and rule by masters or bureaucrats deciding what’s to be produced and by whom, where you will work, live, and go to school, while claiming to be your voice and promising free education, free public granaries (food stamps), free housing, and free medical care as a “right.” Rights of course, are cheaper to give than real things, and nothing is free since someone has to produce the so-called “freebies.” Socialist rulers once in power, always in power.
Regarding “Your founders were slave holders.” The founders established the goal, “all men are created equal” and Americans have been perfecting that goal for nearly 250 years. All African Americans owe their freedom and opportunities to Thomas Jefferson and the founders and the 350,000 mainly white but also black Union soldiers who died pursuing that goal.
Several years ago, it was estimated the combined income of all Blacks in the U.S. (including 3 Black billionaires) exceeded the combined incomes of all African countries where the average income is $5 per day. On the 4th of July, 1776 could anyone imagine Black billionaires ever (or 14,800,000 U.S. millionaires)?
A million people a year legally immigrate to the U.S. for its vaunted freedoms and opportunities and 50,000 a month are caught illegally crossing our borders risking rape, plunder and death for freedom from government and the opportunities therefrom.
I’m proud to be an American for the limited government and same freedoms so many others want to also enjoy.
Schnaubelt, a San Diego City Councilman from 1977 to 1981, is a commercial real estate broker and author of the 2013 book, Romancing the Voters, published five years ago today.