This land is your land, this land is my land,
From California to the New York island;
From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters;
This land was made for you and me.
— Woody Guthrie
ONE OF THE REASONS I FEEL QUALIFIED to speak of the United States is that I have travelled extensively throughout the country, both during my military service and since. I have visited 47 states in the last 52 years – the ones I’ve missed have been Florida, South Dakota and Alaska. I’m feeling an itch for a road trip building in me, so I may finally visit at least one of those states in the next few months. I’ll keep you all posted.
On my last major road trip, back in the autumn of 2010, I gained a renewed appreciation not only for the beauty of this great land, but for the incredible hospitality and generosity of my fellow citizens.
Everywhere I went, I would tell people I was on a road trip, and those people offered to put me up for the night — sometimes for multiple nights. Even in New York City — famous for its supposed brusqueness — I found the people to be almost uniformly happy to assist me in getting around their complex and crowded megalopolis. I went through New York several times on my trip, and there was a Russian immigrant bartender at the Battery Garden Bar and Grill in lower Manhattan who, when he saw me coming in, always made sure to have a tumbler of Laphroaig Scotch on the rocks waiting for me when I sat down. Part of that is just that he’s a good bartender, but there was also something quintessentially American in his kindness.
We Americans are renowned the world over for our friendliness, and my travels have given me an inkling of an explanation for that national character trait.
From the perspective of an era when jet air travel is routine to the point of tediousness, it is easy to forget what an ordeal it was to cross the vastness of the American West in the days before the Trans-Continental Railroad.
Many of those 19th-century settlers started their trek west from St. Louis, Missouri, which was slightly over 2,000 miles — if you’re walking, which they were — from San Francisco. I’ve driven that journey (on another road trip, in 2008) and it took me three days to cover that distance at roughly 70 miles per hour on modern roads. The settlers traversed terrain that was anything from rutted wagon tracks to trackless wilderness, crossing some of the most challenging territory on Earth. If they got their timing even slightly wrong or were delayed on the way by broken wagon axles or other mishaps, they might find themselves crossing the high desert in the killing, blast-furnace heat of July; or, if they tried to cross the forbidding final barrier of the Sierra Nevada mountains too late in the fall, they could freeze in 50-foot snowdrifts.
Meeting a stranger in such circumstances was not just a cause for celebration, but often the difference between life and death. That said, the tendency toward unity is more deeply rooted in our history than the frontier. Our national motto, after all, is e pluribus unum — “Out of many, one.”
Generations of immigrants have come to our shores, many fleeing various forms of persecution and strife in the countries they left behind, and in the process of starting a new life here they have vastly enriched our language, our cuisine and our culture.
The one ethic group that was brought here against their will, the African slaves, fought first for their release from bondage, and then for their full rights as citizens, a struggle that continues today. Even so, I think art historians of the far future will regard African Americans’ contributions as being a large part of what makes American music distinctive. Virtually all the popular music of the last 100 years was by, or was heavily influenced by, African Americans.
The writer Mark Shea, who is both a renowned Catholic author and also a good friend, perfectly summed up my own thoughts when he wrote recently:
“The fundamental thing I feel for America is gratitude for her people, her heritage, her abundance, her rooted faith in equality that is capable of breaking down our own historic sins against justice like the slow pounding of the surf. I love the very land … I love the sheer dizzying variety of the American people. I am amazed at our genius for bringing together ethnicities and religions and somehow defusing the fratricidal conflicts which, in the Old World, have gone on for centuries.”
As we watch the fireworks tomorrow, let’s reflect on the remarkable achievements of our ancestors, but let’s also be inspired not just to add to their successes, but to correct their failures. Let us forge a more perfect union.
Happy Fourth of July, everyone.
Matt Talbot is a writer and poet, as well as an old Benicia hand. He works for a tech start-up in San Francisco.
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Happy Fourth, Matt…good stuff.
pb
Matt I also have been all over this wonderful country. Florida Keys to Portland, Maine. Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon. Bay Area to Jackson, Wyoming along the snake river. Yes I did follow the same area you did. Columbia River, gorge to the Pacific ocean. I have criss crossed this state many times. I love all parts of this wonderful country. By car and train. I traveled the South and saw few if any Stars and Bars flags. Little if any racisim. They love their heritage and love to share it. Wonderful people. But when traveling the north and the big cities I saw planty of racisim. Terrible living conditions. I said to myself this is the north and this is not how it is described. Ihis should all be happening in the south. But it was not. Yes Matt there are past issue in our history that are still remembered not by the South but the North. It now appears that the real racisim is in the big northern cities including Caliornia. We will overcome this but not by putting one side against the other. The northern cities must on this wonderful day ,the 4th of July start a new road to exceptance. The North and their politicians are dividing this country and are blaming the South. The north is the one that should be leading the way in their own big cities and stop blaming the south. Matt we all must do our part because the people of this country want it not to be a divided country. So I would challenge the North to start doing their part and quit trying to shift the blame to the south. Have a wonderful 4th of July amd lets all do something to show unity. I have and will continue to do so.
Matt, I’ve been to 49 of the 50 states – Hawaii not visited yet – and agree with what you wrote. We are, as one Irish citizen I met in Ireland said to a friend who wanted to know if I knew his cousin in Chicago, “You’re daft man, you’re talking about a continent, not a little country like ours!” He was pretty close. What I have always loved is the variety of cultures I have met over the years – everything from the wonderful Native Americans (and they are not the same, btw), to the deeply imbedded Hispanic cultures of the southwest, to the still vibrant neighborhoods of the northeastern cities, where driving through them on Sunday morning allows you to smell everything from Polish sausage to Italian sauce. There is, indeed, a lot we still have to do, but as a political experiment, the USA is, by far, the most interesting and far-reaching in history. Mark Twain said something to the effect that you cannot maintain prejudice about others if you travel and meet those others; your column reflects that nicely. Happy 4th and onward and upward!
Matt: Our national motto, after all, is e pluribus unum — “Out of many, one.”
Happy Independence Day to you as well Matt, a lot of good sentiments and words in the above piece.
Two clarifications: e pluribus unum, refers of course to the colonies, thirteen of them becoming one nation. By transference it has also been applied to the assimilation of many immigrants helping to form one nation. Assimilation has helped to make us strong and continued assimilation will make us stronger.
Though the phrase appears on our national seal, the actual motto of our nation is: “In God We Trust”, as appears on our currency.
Yes, In God We Trust and Under God were added to our currency and the pledge in the late 1950s as a response to those commies who supposedly hated God. By saying “under God,” you were proving you weren’t a commie. Up until around 1956 or so, E Pluribus Unum was just fine with everyone until we had to start signing “loyalty” oaths and claiming God was blessing us more than anyone else, especially if we were anti-Communist. Which is why I refuse to say “under God” when I recite the pledge. The Baptist minister who wrote the original didn’t see the need for it, so why should I?
LOL.
Wound a little tight aren’t we?
Think I’ll go downstairs and put on Kate Smith, you know song;
GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Love that song Dennis. I think I will blast it from my deck all over downtown Benicia. I sure hope you hear it J. GOD BLESS AMERICA and also you J. You may need a little help.
I loved Kate Smith and I love America. I realize that any negative history or criticism means, to some folks, that I don’t, but I was raised by parents who were extremely patriotic but also taught their children to be critical thinkers. We had friends who were hunted down by the commie hunters in the 50s because, get this, they had written a letter to the Washington Post questioning “under God” being added to the pledge. That kind of fear-mongering and questioning of loyalty and “you might need to hear Kate Smith because you need help” baloney is what divides us at a time when we need to be united. If I am wound up a bit tightly it’s because I, who am a devout Christian and church goer, detest questionable religious litmus tests to determine who is worthy to be called a “real ‘Merican.” And Matt’s column rocks, to get back to the subject in question!
J you are not special and neither am I. Your comment could be assumed as dividing a country that is trying very hard to be united. Just how do you think I was raised? Do you know? I was raised like you and in a time of war. Pearl Harbor and concentration camps, Death marches. Neigbors losing a child in the war. Yes I am very Patriotic and maybe for a different reason. I remember a lot about WWII and it was not -pleasant. We did not want another war. To this day like many others I do use the term “Pray To God” and guess what J I do believe you use it also. You have not been singled out you singled yourself out. I have no issue with that. But it does work both ways. J I have no issue with you at all. Think as you think but also be willing to except others thinking and comebacks.. Remember J this is only a comment section.
Indivisible? Not likely.
J you are not special nor am I. I love America.
Jfurlong stated: We had friends who were hunted down by the commie hunters in the 50s because,…
That being the case then you must have been appalled by Obama’s IRS harassment of innocent people because of their political beliefs.
And getting back to the article, it would be interesting to hear Matt’s take on the actions of President Obama to help bring this nation back together, especially in regards to the racial divide.
I believe the racial divide is nothing more than the people who were shocked at a well educated, intelligent, black American being elected president so the racism that has always simmered below (and sometimes not so far below) the surface in this country came bubbling up. Obama is not responsible for the so-called racial divide in this country; it has always existed and only became more obvious in the reaction to a black president. As for IRS – and let’s not leave Nixon’s enemies list out of the equation, please, that has nothing to do with my comment, which directed at the HISTORY of “under God” and “in God we trust” being added in the 1950s.
jfurlong stated: Obama is not responsible for the so-called racial divide in this country
No one said he was “responsible for the so-called racial divide’
There was a moment back in 2008 as I watched Jesse Jacksons tears of joy flowing that I actually thought: Maybe this man, Obama, can play a role in helping to put past ugliness behind us. Then he appointed Eric Holder, who fired Gerald Walpin, released the thugs who intimidated white voters and forced Christopher Adams out of his position in the DOJ.
It was then I realized what a fool I had been to think that Obama had any intentions of fairness or of viewing racial issues from any other POV then that of ‘victimization’ while also exploiting it for his own causes.
No, the race card has been overplayed and dealt from the bottom of the deck. It is an old, tiresome ploy used by those unable to face the real issues of this walking disaster of a President.
For goodness sake even Jimmy Carter is slamming him. is he also a racist?
jfurlong –
America is a great country in many respects but is not perfect. McCarthyism is one of our darkest moments. Many see big government as a counterbalance to big companies and rich aristocrats. I agree that that is a necessary function of government. But there is a balance. Government can be too big and too strong (for example Joe McCarthy). I am of the belief that the current government is over-reaching to the detriment of its citizens (but for the betterment on government interests).
Matt –
Great article. America has much to be proud of. By my count I have passed through, or stopped in, about 40 states. If I count the number of states that I spent meaningful time in, it is about 35.
One of them is Alaska. I have been to Fairbanks, Anchorage and Prudhoe Bay. If you get a chance, I recommend that you travel to Alaska and go to Prudhoe Bay. It is actually open to the public. I think that you will find it to be an amazing experience regardless of the time of year. You will be able to travel the Dalton Highway all the way back the civilization. When I was in Prudhoe Bay, I was amazed by two things. The periodic smog created by the flaring of gas that is a byproduct of the crude oil (imagine if we could harness the value of that energy). I was also amazed at the steps taken for environmental protection. The vehicles were all about 2 years old. All parked vehicles had a large drip pan underneath to retain any leaks. This protected the environment from the most minor of spills and alerted all that the vehicle was in need of maintenance. I never observed a parked vehicle without a drip pan under it. I rarely saw any fluid in a drip pan. If a facility was no longer needed (pump stations have been shut down due to the reduced flow), the idled facilities are deconstructed and the site returned to virgin conditions. When drill rigs need to be moved, they are moved during the winter to minimize impact on the tundra. Yes, the dirt! Rather than easily move the rigs during the summer, in 23 hours of day light and with temperatures in the 80’s, the big, bad oil companies create an ice road, move the rigs during 24 hours of darkness in temperature that are often at -30F. I have personally seen artic fox running down the haul road and moose sleeping under the barracks at Prudhoe Bay.
The trans-Alaska Pipeline has carried 2 million barrels per day for years on end. It is currently pumping around 500 thousand. Go and see how pristine the North Slope is. Then ask yourself why are we not drilling in ANWR, the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. This is probably the biggest thing that we could do as a nation to provide high paying jobs to middle class workers. Cheap energy providing low cost inputs to American manufacturing bankrolling high paying middle class jobs. And pissing off every liberal in our one nation under god.
Very good comments Tom.
J I was a little surprised by your comment. I assume you were an educator. You must have followed the rise of Communism unchecked in the USA. The 20’s, 30’s, 40,s and finally ended in the 50,s. Yes I do believe that loyalty oaths at that time were necessary. Very simple as a Communist you were loyal to the call to over throw the USA. As we move beyound the fifties it was under control and Communist Party all but disdappear in the USA. Yes the HUAC was necessary. As far as God goes do you not believe in a God? J I love this country and everything it stands for as I do believe you also do. But not understanding the meaning of loyalty I am very surprised at. We live in America and we are free and you as I am are free to express our beliefs. Enjoy the rest of this wonderful celebration of freedom this weekend and well beyound. God Bless America and Kate Smith we love you. I love the City of Benicia and its Friday and Saturday just made me enjoy being in Benicia even more. winderful rersidents.
I grew up in D.C. and believe me, I know the feelings of fear and panic which that horrible HUAC generated; how McCarthy brought disgrace on the senate; how anyone who had the slightest history of curiosity about socialism or communism had his or her life ruined, how the communist bugaboo was just that, as history has shown us. I do believe in God, but MY God is one that requires me to read, study, think and make decisions based on the above, rather than some knee-jerk reaction to anything that denotes change or progress.
J I do agree McCarthy as an individual was a very dangerous man. But the fear of Communism was for sure real. I suggest you read the book”Witness by Whittaker Chambers”. Very long book 800 pages. Communism was no bugaboo is was real. Remember is was not just HUAC and McCarthy that were involved in that era of investigating Communism. It was a real fear of the elected officials and the Communist in the State Dept {Does that have a familiatr Ring}. The final results were that a strong presence of Communism in America was stopped. At that time it was Stalin in charge of Communism. Yes there was plenty of fear. I assume you think the same about the Tea Party treatment they are getting. Pure fear by the Democrats but no fears of Sociaslist Bernie Sanders. I do not understand the logic of the Democrats. Has your educator past talked about the Klan rallies and Nazi rallies in DC.? Not very pleasant and far more fearful than any Communist investigation. This country is free and open. We have made errors in the past but have done everything possible to make sure they do not happen again. I believe stopping the Klan and Nazi movement is the country was correct. Also the Communist movement in this country also was correct. I do hope you read that book and maybe you will have a different feeling about 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s and that the action taken was for the good of the country. I do hope you remember that Italians and Germans were moved and interned also during WWII. Not just the Hapanese. Another dark period in our past. All done by a Democratic Prersident. That in its self is not the issue but it still cannot be avoided. Matt article was very good but does not tell the whole story. Just take a look at the recent past in California and tell me what you think of Marin City, Filipinos not being able to marry whites. You will get a big surprise. I could go on and on and this story will never end until we all understand what freedom really is. I know what it is. My beliefs and practices I hope you understand are not what my political beliefs are. I am a little different of a Conservative than people think a Conservative is. They are clueless.. Just ask me J and you will be shocked and surprised for the good.
When the legend becomes fact, print the legend. — Maxwell Scott
The legends abound regarding McCarthy and no single name of the past 60 years sends the left into fits of rage as does his. The fact is though that McCarthy was right, as the USSR had indeed placed spies into the highest levels of various government agencies.
None other than the late Sen. Patrick Moynahan wrote of this in his book Secrecy and The American Experience. If memory serves he stated that about 350 people, many of whom were American citizen’s, were working for the Soviets during the Cold War.
Yes, his tactics were wrong, and yes a few eggs were broken in the mess, (as ‘Uncle Joe’ stated) but the hysterics and howls we hear periodically are an overreaction to the reality of fighting a War.
Notice for example the level of rage against McCarthy compared to the .nonexistent rage against FDR for sending over 100,000 Americans into “relocation centers”. or “internment Camps”. Similar camps in Europe were called something else.
Yes, war is hell and bad things happen to good people. But aren’t we expected to sacrifice a little for the common good?
to the reality of fighting a War.
That comment refers to the Cold War, not WWII, just for the record.
Any one else here have tinitis? And if so, is there a remedy?
It does appear in this Liberal town poor Matt is getting hammered. I do believe Matt can take it and will be back with his weekly article. That does not mean that folks will not comment negetively. And also make comments that no one even understands.
Some things are very interesting. Some can not hear but can read, I guess and comment back.. A hearing comment on a run that is only for reading is a big issue. I cannot figure that out. Can you read me? So if that is the case the heARING issue is way over the top. DID YOU HEAR THAT. I did turn off the bells…
A lovely column Matt. Perhaps we are an exceptional country after all!
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