Sarah Palin and John Winthrop

"But even more important is that world view that I share with John McCain. That world view that says that America is a nation of exceptionalism. And we are to be that shining city on a hill, as President Reagan so beautifully said, that we are a beacon of hope and that we are unapologetic here. We are not perfect as a nation. But together, we represent a perfect ideal. And that is democracy and tolerance and freedom and equal rights."

             -- Governor Sarah Palin, October 2, 2008

In a debate filled with eminently forgettable blather, here we have a statement of genuine importance -- a text that demands analysis. Where to begin?

Perhaps by noting the origins of this world view to which Governor Palin refers. The conception of America as the "city upon a hill" was not the handiwork of Ronald Reagan, or indeed of any other paladin of the Republican Party. Rather, John Winthrop, founding governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, first voiced the conviction that God had summoned the people of the New World - or at least those settling in New England - to serve as a model for all humankind.

Speaking in Boston Harbor to a small assembly of Puritans preparing to disembark from the ship Arabella in 1630, Winthrop announced that "The eyes of all people are upon us." Should the members of his community fail in their anointed mission, a dire fate awaited them: "we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world."

Winthrop described the core of that mission with great specificity. It had little to do with values such as tolerance and equal rights, in which Winthrop had little interest. It had everything to do with forging a covenant with God, who had summoned the Puritans to create a Christian commonwealth. Mindful of that imperative, Winthrop explained

[W]e must love one another with a pure heart fervently. We must bear one another's burdens. We must not look only on our own things, but also on the things of our brethren... We must be willing to abridge ourselves of our superfluities, for the supply of others' necessities. ... We must delight in each other; make others' conditions our own; rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work, as members of the same body.

To violate the terms of this covenant was to invite catastrophe: "[If] we shall neglect the observation of these articles," Winthrop continued,

and, dissembling with our God, shall fall to embrace this present world and prosecute our carnal intentions, seeking great things for ourselves and our posterity, the Lord will surely break out in wrath against us, and be revenged of such a people, and make us know the price of the breach of such a covenant.

Now there are three possibilities.

The first possibility is that God does not exist. In that case, the concept of American Exceptionalism first articulated by Winthrop, employed with great political effect by Ronald Reagan, and now endorsed by Sarah Palin, is simply nonsense - a fairy tale that may once have had a certain utility, but that in our own day has become simply pernicious. To persist in this nonsense is to make it impossible either to see ourselves as we really are or to see the world as it actually is.

The second possibility is that God exists, but that he has not singled out Americans as his new Chosen People. Indeed, consult Scripture and it becomes apparent that God himself has not spoken directly on the matter. In that case, Winthrop, Reagan, and Palin are remarkably presumptuous in claiming to interpret God's purposes and will. Further investigation might be in order - perhaps consulting with priests, ministers, rabbis, imams to see what they have to say on the matter.

The third possibility is that God exists and has indeed singled out America as his New Israel. In that event, John Winthrop's charge of 1630 demands urgent attention - not least of all his warning of what will befall America should it be seduced by earthly concerns and carnal desires and tend too much to superfluities.

Today no doubt, the eyes of all people are indeed on the United States - what happens here affects the world. Yet many of those who observe us don't like what they see. The question for Governor Palin and for other believers committed to the concept of American exceptionalism is this: have we kept the Lord's covenant? If not, perhaps the time has come to mend our ways before it's too late.

Who knows? The sound you hear even now on Wall Street may be God's wrath breaking out against us.

Andrew J. Bacevich is the author of The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism.

Comments

[JuergenHartl]

If this is the major problem in this country, who said what originally, then this country is in great shape! :)

There are way more and bigger problems!
Who cares where the quote came from!

[scmucas2001]

I care because as was stated by someone on the radio today, the country was never intended to be set up as a Christian (or any other religious) country. It was set up as a secular democracy and the first amendment also grants citizens the ability to follow their muse to whatever god (or gods) they choose.

This same person said that while people could easily name 2 characters of the Simpsons, they were not able to name more than one of the 5 freedoms granted by the first amendment. This is a scary fact and one of the main reasons that the Bill of Rights is eroding under the weight of the neocon attack on our nation.

[FZliveson]

My ancestors arrived in Massachusetts on the "Lyon's Whelp" in 1629.
John Endecott was their leader BEFORE John Winthrop.
They helped build Charlestown. They grew as a family and eventually
fought with the colonies in the Revolutionary war. Then they settled in
the Ohio Valley, one of the first to inhabit Campus Martius in Marrietta.
The entire Sprague clan is rolling in their graves over where we have
ended up today, as are the other founders of our nation....­people who were
responsible and accountable for their actions.

[TroubleNYC]

Notice you're an Obama Republican?

http://www.amconmag.com/article/2008/mar/24/0002/

[TroubleNYC]

Mr. Bacevich,

I saw your interview on Bill Moyers. Your voice is one sorely needed in political discourse. I, and I'm sure others, appreciate your contribution.

[SeenItBefore]

I, too, can quote Ronnie Reagan... "Welcome to Death Valley Days." "Win one for the Gipper". "I can't recall ever meeting him." "There he goes again." "Nancy, who are these people."

Look, it's sad that history has been condensed to quotes attributed to late 20th century icons, but, what are you going to do? My daughter believes the history of the world started a couple of hundred years ago, and she's smart! But not well educated.

[Synoia]

In that case, Winthrop, Reagan, and Palin are remarkably presumptuous in claiming to interpret God's purposes and will.

In all Monotheistic sects, claiming to speak for God is considered Heresy.

Historically Heretics were burnt at the stake. Perhaps the Republicans would like to bring back the good, old days. Palin, Dobson, Robertson and their ilk could be the first "beneficiaries" and become close to God (quite quickly) through this merciful ritual.

I'll gather the wood, and if necessary light the fire. Do I have a volunteer to be closer to God?

[mounthood]

"Historically Heretics were burnt at the stake"

That would add to global warming.

[JodyMcg]

Apparently Palin's pastor seems to believe heretics should still be persecutes as he used the word witchcraft in his laying on hands 'blessing'.

[KrankyVet]

First off, it's so nice to read through a set of such informed and thoughful comments without troll input! Thanks to all. Palin has long been a member of a church that believes they have the only"right" answer, that all Christianity must be brought under their control so as to "save" the world. Not too much hubris there, eh? Sarah Palin knew fully well why she used that phrase. Code indeed! If the numbers are anywhere near correct, we will not have to put up with her nonsense much longer. O/B 08...

Oh, one more thing, a nice little line I ran into yesterday, can't remember who or where, but I liked it.
"Reality has a liberal bias"

[ProFromOre]

'vet, I saw the same reality line a few days ago and cracked up laughing. I've done a bit of reading about Palin's church and their beliefs and frankly, it scared the hell out of me and I'm a ordained & consecrated Bishop in the Greek Orthodox Church. I don't practice or preach nor am I affiliated with a diocese or parish, but in my younger days I was involved enough to see some rather 'esoteric' beliefs and practices.

I read the radical-fu­ndamentali­st Pentecostal sect Palin belongs to in Alaska continues to espouse beliefs and practices previously outlawed by their national governing body in the 1990's. Evidently the national body felt it was an important enough ruling they re-affirmed their decision in 2000-2001.

Sarah Fraud Palin and her extremist beliefs are as dangerous to our country and constitution as radical fundamentalist Islamists are to peaceful muslim peoples.

For anyone who wants to get an idea of what her TRUE religious beliefs are, rent the movie Jesus Camp.

I just realized what was both eerie and familiar about Palin's debate style. It's been sub-consciously bothering me since last night. It's typical of a rhetoric(al) cadence used by pastors and is prevalent in some churches more than others.

Anyone else see the similarity?

[BARRISTER]

Winthrop sure sounded like his colony was to be the Utopia of Socialism . Read his words again: everything he says mandates the society helping each member, each accornng to his ability ( to give), to each according to his need. Sounds exactly like Obams plan to tax the top 1% to help the middle Class and other Class below that, if any.

[ProFromOre]

Sen Obama's plan is to repeal Bush's tax cut. The net effect is the same revenue-wise, but it is a LOT different philosophically. It was foolish of Bush to create the tax cut in a time of war, especially when the wealthiest 1-2% of this country did not ask for it OR, in many of their own words: "didn't need it."

The choice to correct a foolish mistake made by an ideologue is just not the same as creating a new tax.

It's part of the Failure Party's collection of mantras to frame ANY net increase of taxes a new tax increase. It's disingenuous, divisive and the public is beginning to realize it. This is one of many practices that will be the demise of the Failure Party is they don't reform themselves.

[zann]

Its one of those technically true things Republicans like- Reagan did say it, just not first. If she'd mentioned Winthrop, she would have seemed like an intellectual elite. Republicans on the stump can attribute most quotes to Reagan or Lincoln, and they're even looser with Lincoln.

[evsparks]

Of course the problem is that they would have to actually know who said it in the first place in order for it to have been calculating (when Reagan said it himself, he attributed it to Winthrop). I know, I know, that makes us horrible, nasty, intellectual elites - or, on the other hand, it could just make us anyone who paid attention in American history. Or maybe they don't teach John Winthrop up in Alaska? Maybe they don't teach American history? You know, someone should ask them when it became such an affront to this country to be educated; I thought that used to be something to which we actually aspired!

One final thought, Republicans like to claim a monopoly on patriotism; if this were true, wouldn't the founding of this country and the colonies before it be something of great value to them? I just wish more people could see through this, but I am constantly disappointed.

[ProFromOre]

have heart, evsparks, the awakening of the American people has historically been a slow process, but, also historically, it tends to be an immovable force once it gathers momentum.

The voices and message cannot stop once Obama is in office.

[Unsui]

Mr. Bachevich: yours is a very important voice to have in the public dialog. Thank you for your work.

[darker]

Republicans put the fabled "CITY ON A HILL" USA down the toilet!
They talk big and STEAL BIG, too, while crashing Middle Class American futures.
NO MORE YEARS to liars, thieves, corruption.
Obama-Biden '08

[ProFromOre]

"The Failure Party": bringing you lies, hypocrisy, deceit and failure since 1972.

----------­----------­--------

"If it wasn't for lies, there'd be no McCain, Palin, or GOP, at all"

----------­----------­--------

The RNC's prescription for Failure Party sycophants: tell a lie, break a law, tell a lie to cover it; lie about a position, lie about a vote, lie about the opponent; cage a voter, suppress the vote, de-fraud an election. Repeat as needed.

[ProfessorDuh]

A 6,000-year-old Earth. American torture. American secret police. Secret imprisonment without trial. The trillion-dollar “free market” bailout of wealthy crooks.
Collapsing bridges, health care systems and national economies.
Corporations that cheat anyone anytime they want, then brazenly demand subsidy money from the taxpayers. Poison toys. Free-speech “zones.” Manufacturing companies shipped overseas and replaced by pawn shops, temp agencies and cash advance loan sharks. Borrowing and cutting taxes to escape the effects of the $10 trillion national debt.
The invasion and permanent occupation of a country that never posed a threat.
Airwaves littered with the ugly ravings of religious fanatics who promise you a first class ticket to redneck heaven in exchange for a generous contribution of mere earthly greenbacks.
Boy-chasing congressmen who preach moral purity. A vice president who gets drunk and shoots people in the face. An ignoramus installed as president, and another cheered as the next vice president.
TV talking heads that tell you to be terrified of Saddam's invisible drone plane. To tremble at the nonexistent bird flu pandemic. To cower before the cyanide subway attack that didn’t happen. But above all, to hide under your desk and never, ever ask what happened to your constitutional rights.
Frankly, the Republican Party, and the American political system in general, has gone completely insane.

[thirteenvirtues]

Spot on.

[annalivia]

Actually, St Augustine of Hippo was the author of "De Civitate Dei" or the city of God.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_civitate_Dei

[DangerBird]

I agree - the notion goes back as least as far back as St. Augustine, though I'd wager if we cared to do the foot work, I am sure we could find the raw (as yet un-christianized) material in Plato...

[Szewczyk]

I'd have to say that Palin's statement was just more "eminently forgettable blather."

[glitz]

Great Post!! I am just finishing "LIMITS OF POWER". After all of our years living abroad, I finally understand the history behind America's expansionism mentality. Of course determining methods, right or wrong, or even the future status of America as a result remains to be seen.