American Values

July 4, 2026 (Vol. 20 No. 24) - As our nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence, we should be mindful of the values our Founders held when they launched into uncharted waters. For the first time in world history, they proudly proclaimed that "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they endowed by their Creator certain and unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is easy for us to take their bold declaration for granted. But it was a courageous proclamation that the American people had the right to set their own course without being beholden to whims and whimsies of a King.

As we pause to reflect upon two and one-half centuries of life under the banner of the United States of America, it is a good time to reaffirm those values upon which we have stood and to articulate them within a 21st century context. This is not to suggest that I or anyone else can improve upon the works of the incredible people who risked their lives by defying a king in 1776. However, using the language of today, I'd like to proclaim what I see are my six unalienable American values:

Equality - It isn't necessarily true that all men are created equal: People come into this world into different physical, mental, geographic, psychographic and financial situations. However, our Founders said that people living under the flag of the United States, without regard to their citizenship status, are accorded equal opportunity and equal protection under the law. It is through these opportunities, unhindered by legal or social hurdles, that we Americans have a chance to define who we are.




Tolerance - We must respect the opinions (free speech), religion and lifestyle of others. This does not suggest that anything goes. But as long as our words and actions do not impede upon the rights of others, we have the right to left alone. Freedom of religion also means freedom from religion. Our religious and moral values may guide our thoughts and actions, but they should not be forced upon others. This means there is a separation of church and state. Our laws should reflect our moral values while, at the same time, acknowledging and protecting the values of others. We should also show tolerance and empathy toward those wishing to join our American family, especially those who come to our shores fleeing repression. And as the Supreme Court just reaffirmed, those who were born in the United States enjoy the full rights of citizenship. It makes no sense to demonize a segment of our community that has historically so enriched us.




Transparency - Every thing elected and public officials do in our name should be visible for public oversight. That includes law enforcement officers and agents, who should not be allowed to hide behind masks. Nor should government officials be allowed to make public decisions in closed-door meetings. Openness builds trust, a critical commodity in a civil society. This also implies that when it comes to truth, there is no such thing as "alternative facts." There may be many opinions, but there is only one truth.


Respect - As residents of the United States, respect for others should be our default position. Only when the rights of others are abused should we withhold that respect. While we may disagree with the political, social or religious values of others, we should respect their right to hold them. We should also hold true to the requirements of our Constitution, as well as federal, state and local laws. If we don't like them, there are mechanisms for amending them. This also means that, as a nation, we hold to those same standards in our relations with other nations.




Humility - Americans live in special circumstances that are absent in many parts of the world. We must remember that our physical and spiritual strengths are products of the blood, sweat and tears of our ancestors over the past 250 years. We may be exceptional. We can strive to become what Ronald Reagan referred to as a "Shining City on the Hill" - a condition to which the rest of the world admires and aspires. But we reject the jingoistic concept of "American exceptionalism." Those who act unselfishly to improve the conditions of others are among what George H. W. Bush called "a thousand points of light." To borrow a line from Lincoln, "with malice toward none and charity to all" we temper our actions toward those less fortunate inside and outside of our borders with the knowledge that "there but for the grace of God go I."




Responsibility - We, as a society and as individuals, are accountable for our actions and inactions. We accept that residency and citizenship in the United States are not just rights, but privileges we must maintain through our actions. Our elected and appointed leaders bear a just burden to act within the public interest. We, as individuals, are charged to engage in the life of our communities. We are required to stay informed and active in public affairs. By doing so, we will hold our elected and appointed leaders to standards consistent with our values. However, it is important that we, ourselves, are held to those same values by others - and by ourselves.

The signers of the Declaration of Independence, who by their actions were committing treason against the English Crown, wrote that they took this action "with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence" and concluded by mutually pledging "our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor." It is in that spirit that I, on this 250th anniversary of American independence, pledge my continued adherence to the values I have articulated. That's it for now. Happy birthday, America, and, of course as always, Fear the Turtle.