Beginning this week’s curation are two articles in Tony Williams’s series exploring the philosophic and historical background of the ideas espoused in the Declaration of Independence. He shows how the Declaration was rooted in natural law, an intelligible moral order the Creator set in place that human beings can understand through their reason. He then uses John Locke, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King, Jr. to explain the principle of natural human equality: the claim that, in the American context, all people possessed “equal natural rights, equally gave their consent to create a republican government, had equal dignity, and were equal under the law.” Matthew Spalding, a former member of President Trump’s 1776 Commission, speaks at length on the meaning of the principle that “all men are created equal,” the cornerstone of the Declaration of Independence’s argument for separation from Great Britain. He contends that, for the American Founders, equality meant that all human beings are equal by nature, with no one chosen to rule anyone else without his consent. In contrast, the concept of equity that is increasing popular today is focused on attaining outcomes rather than understanding a pre-political truth about human beings. Mackubin Thomas Owens explores what it means to be an American: is it the tribe, blood relations, race, or ethnicity that binds citizens together? Ultimately, Owens summons Abraham Lincoln’s argument that civic nationalism, the belief that the “United States is a nation based on a set of beliefs – a creed – rather than race or blood,” defines American citizenship. David Davenport argues that bills circulating in five state legislatures that would block funding for 1619 Project curriculum are a flawed strategy to deal with a real problem. Instead, local governments should have the power to ban or allow 1619-influenced curriculum since they are charged with overseeing the varied details of education policy. Essential Reading Mackubin Thomas Owens, Foreign Policy Research Institute What does it mean to be an American? Is being an American a function of blood, race, or language, or is it something else? When one... In the News Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune Nathan Brown, Arizona Capitol Times Danielle Allen, The Atlantic Robert Royal & Rick Plasterer, Juicy Ecumenism Tony Williams, Constituting America Mark Mercer, James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal Anya Kamentz, NPR Hans von Spakovsky, Heritage Foundation John G. Grove, Law & Liberty Tony Williams, Constituting America Nick Penniman, USA Today Jonathan Turley, Cincinnati Enquirer James Burling, Pacific Legal Foundation David Davenport, Ashbrook Colin Woodward, Smithsonian Matthew Spalding & Jan Jekielek, American Thought Leaders In the founding of America, some suggest the idea that “all men are created equal” was a lie, written by hypocrites in a time of... Anika Prather, Bill of Rights Institute How do you find the strength to stand up for what you believe in? This week, Kirk and Rachel are joined by Dr. Anika Prather... Chris Flannery, American Story Henry Wadsworth Longfellow has been called, “the most popular poet in American history.” When Longfellow wrote, few Americans... Stuart D. McLaurin, White House Historical Association In this first episode of 2021, White House Historical Association President Stewart D. McLaurin introduces the Association’s popular... Carl Cannon's Great American Stories One year ago today, the first U.S. military serviceman was diagnosed with COVID-19. He was 23-year-old Army soldier stationed in ... The grim COVID milestone we've been awaiting with trepidation arrived Monday, as predicted: 500,000 American lives lost. President Biden gave ... Good morning, it's Feb. 19, 2021 -- a Friday, the day of the week when I reprise a quotation meant ... |