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

[GimmeFive]

"And that is democracy and tolerance and freedom and equal rights."

-- Governor Sarah Palin, October 2, 2008

What's even more galling and unacceptable about this pathetic woman is the fact that she had the nerve to utter these banalities seconds after spewing separatism and discrimination in an earlier exchange. When asked about the rights of gays and lesbians, Ms. Palin was less-than-embracing of equality for everyone's rights when it was not politically acceptable to be where her party is concerned. She and her ilk are closed-minded, avaricious, power-hungry bigots who should never be elected to higher office. Even dog-catchers wouldn't have them. Pathetic.

[zippedy]

Okay, follow me here: Why are cities built on hills? Ever been to Italy? You're not on a hill to welcome people, you're up there to fend them off. A "city on a hill" really IS an apt metaphor for what we have become, what Ronald Reagan made us: an exclusionary, defensive, egocentric land that is rapidly being left behind by the rest of the world.

[mounthood]

I live in a village on a hill in Vermont. Does that count? Sometimes it gets damn windy and cold.

[BAVirago]

Aw, shucks, Andrew! There ya go again, lookin' backward!

This is a beautiful analysis of that passage.

Looks like Palin, who must have--as a journalism major--taken some lit classes, skipped any American .iterature courses where Winthrop is required reading.

[ron ray]

I'm not Palin or Reagan fan, but must we take this as a sign of religious extremism?

Perhaps Reagan simply cited the phrase as way to say that American democracy, for all its faults, is an example to the world of freedom and prosperity?

add that it is an example that, while not perfect, has made much progess toward the perfect, and I would agree. we are a shining example of what's possible....

[CharlieMarlowe]

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.

Interesting--my ancestors lived in this "city upon a hill", this "beacon", until the time of the Revolutionary War and then left for Canada in order to remain loyal to Great Britain from whence they came. I think it is too great a burden to "a model for humankind", so I am thankful to my ancesters for leaving but for those who stayed behind in America, good luck.

[ejones3]

Only folks that read journals and newspapers and stuff would know this kind of thing. Folks like Sarah (or her speechwriters) should do some research and reading before letting her speak.

Obama/Biden '08/'12

[ToonMoene]

> It had little to do with values such as tolerance and equal rights, in which Winthrop had little interest.

HAH - in which the *Puritans* had little interest.

Why do you think this group was expelled from England and Holland in the early 17th century - because they upset emerging tolerance between religious factions.

[Stanley]

The city on the hill, the mythical utopia shining forth. It is best interpreted in our symbol of liberty, the lady holding the torch for all to see and gather for the hope of freedom. Or perhaps the city on the hill is a metaphor for Capitol Hill and our representative government? Beckoning us to such ideals is satisfying only if it is met with authentic leadership. What's missing is the actual passion to create the world in a new image, rather than say anything to ascend to a seat of power. The world awaits a new America to be born from this election. Anything less would be a missed opportunity at a second chance. While John McCain is likable and Sarah Palin is admirable both lack the change from the Bush legacy we need because they are speaking the same petty politics of the far right. The obstinate certitude and righteous anger swimming in hubris still flows in their veins, words and attitudes. This is unacceptable to our allies if we expect real partnership on changing our future together. We can no longer assume we can go it alone and succeed. Our strength is in our leadership, not in our arrogance or hegemony. Change can only be realized in Obama/Biden and we all need to understand what's at stake. Our leader and our country is a symbol to the world. Our power comes by living up to it, not by exercising our power.

[BadChristian]

Mr. Bacevich,
It is fantastic to see you posting here. I loved your latest book, and hope for more posts and insights from you.
I would be very interested to get your take on the bailout ("rescue") bill and the crisis of profligacy.

[hyjanks]

Sarah Palin's reply: Oh, you intellectual elites! I can't even open my mouth and there you all are making fun of me! Betcha Ronald Reagan was the first to say . . . whatever I, uh, he said. 'Sides, it sounded good, didn't it?

[Tpatrick]

There is a fourth possibility. There is a God who does not intervene in the affairs of men and all religions are inventions of men.

[hyjanks]

Thus they are fools who place their faith in idols, for they worship things made by themselves and give the name of guardian to those they guard.

--La Bruyere

[KHAAANNN]

You are all wrong.
The Israelites are God's chosen people. It is in the Bible.
(Just ask them, they will tell you all about it.)
Of course, no Christians really UNDERSTAND the Old Testament anyway............
As Lewis Black so succinctly observed;
"If you have questions, remember, JEWS WALK AMONG YOU!"
"Ask them, they will explain it all to you!"
"They will tell you it is a collection of PARABLES! Not a HISTORY BOOK!"

[QueenGZA]

THANK YOU!!

This was one of my favorite moments from Palin-- her citing REAGAN as the father of the "shining city upon a hill" idealism so often quoted by politicians.

Woodrow Wilson also invoked this notion of America as a "city upon a hill" when he pushed expansionist ideology that promoted spreading democracy across the world (sound familiar??)

"At last the world knows America as the savior of the world!" --President Woodrow Wilson, returning from the Paris Peace Conference after World War I.

Bush II, Reagan, Kennedy, and Wilson have all publicly alluded this dangerous "CITY UPON A HILL" ideology... and now Palin. (*shakes head*)

"We create a vision of the world made in what we think is our own image. We are proud of what we create because we are certain that our intentions are pure, our motives are good, and our behavior virtuous. We know these things to be true because we believe that we are unique among the nations of the world in our collective idealism." (Loren Baritz, Backfire: Vietnam--The Myths that Made Us Fight, The Illusions That Helped Us Lose, The Legacy That Haunts Us Today)

[Palinhater]

As I expressed my annoyance over her misquoting this line, my sister (also a Palin hater) politedly informed me that it was true, but most people identify Reagan with the quote. I shook my head, agreed with her, but was still annoyed that this is the case. Finally, after suffering through his attribution to the quote, someone else has found the same irksome kernel in the tooth that I have over it. Winthrop indeed state it, but check the Bible; that's where Winthrop got it. America is not Jerusalem. Palin get over yourself. I am tired of this American arrogance that puts us as a standard above all. It is this attitude that has gotten us into trouble in this world. I love my country, but consider this world view: Other people feel the same way about their countries and have the right to choose how they want to run them - regardless of how we feel about it. Our actions also have not made us a paragon of virtue. In the Iraq War alone and at Guantanamo, we have become vicious, unethical interrogators who torture people. It's more like the Salem Witch Trials than the City on the Hill. Let's leave this thought behind us and become humble, which, should not be an alien concept this said Christian. Humility brings you perspective, something she and the McCain-Palin campaign seem to be missing.

[Robert Mackey - Huffpost Blogger]

Andrew,
I caught that last night as well, but was forced to choose between Winthop and George McClellan.

When did you ever think to see those two in the same sentence.

Great posting.