Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023 | 2 a.m.
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It’s been two years since the exhibition of disunity displayed in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol. And now, more than ever, we need to remember the soul of America, founded by brave individuals who dared to face a dictator, and build a representative government.
In his farewell address, George Washington, the first president of our United States, offered words of unity, peace, safety and prosperity for our country — words we should reflect upon as Americans:
“The unity of government, which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you.
“It is justly so, for it is the main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize.
“But it is easy to foresee that, from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices employed to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively directed, it is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual and immovable attachment to it …
“The name American which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. … Here every portion of our country finds the most commanding motives for carefully guarding and preserving the union of the whole … your union ought to be considered as a main prop of your liberty, and that the love of the one ought to endear you to the preservation of the other.”
Like so many other Americans, I descend from brave Americans who fought to defend this country and it’s ideals.
My great, great grandfather, William Henry Jameson, stood with other brave patriots on the shores of Boston Harbor to fire upon the British fleet as it was evacuating the harbor. Five members of the Jameson family and five members of the Gard Family fought for the Union of our United States at Gettysburg.
Too many sacrifices have been made to allow our republic to be hijacked by a small-minded group of bullies, who do not represent in any manner the honor and integrity of this country.Every generation of my family went to battle to preserve our liberties against oppression, to work for equal rights among all races, to empower freedom of religion and speech.
A republic requires TRUST — teamwork, respect, unity of purpose, selfless service and transparency. We observe now the compromise of TRUST in virtually all of our institutions.
It is time for each citizen for whom the words of George Washington resonate, who values our liberties, to stand up and be counted by speaking out against prejudice, bias and bigotry in every form.
There are too many in the halls of the United States Congress who carry such prejudice, bias, and bigotry, who are not willing to work as a team, to respect the views of others, to acknowledge a unity of common purpose, to serve without thought of self, and to be transparent, authentic and genuine in doing so.
A lie is a lie, and destroys the very fabric of the soul, individually and collectively.
I humbly beseech you to take the gravity of this historical moment most seriously, and to recognize that what we do today will affect our great, great grandchildren, just as surely as the stance of my great, great grandfather on the shores of Boston Harbor affected me.
May we be persons who value truth, foster goodness, serve those in need, and who understand the intrinsic beauty of our American republic and the hope that it represents to billions of people, here and abroad.
Gard Jameson is a philosophy professor at UNLV, chair of the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada, co-founder of the Childrens’ Advocacy Alliance and co-founder of Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada.
