Having things in common. It is an essential ingredient to any organization , group, community or nation. Four of our states are called commonwealths, the reason being the word represents; for the common good, for the people and expresses the idea that government exists for the common good of the people, not for those in power. Does that mean a socialist state? No, it does not. It means that the people control the government, not the other way around. A republic.

When forming an organization, group, community or nation the question becomes just how much commonality is required? That commonalty is what we call, culture. You can talk about shared ideals, ethics and morals as the basis for culture. The smaller the group, what we think of as being exclusive, the greater that common interest, goal or sense of community. Those excluded from that group often feel resentment or anger towards that group. The real issue however is simple enough to understand, everyone wants to be treated equally, until they are. It is at that point the exceptions, exemptions and special treatment begins.

What is the binding element in America? Why do so many want to come here, to live here, raise their families here? What do we all have in common? It’s a question not easily answered. When I was a child, growing up in America, the general feeling I had was that America was the greatest nation on the planet. There was nothing wrong with that!

In fact, it was the general consensus of the people. To be an American. It was the land of opportunity, not the land of handouts! It was a time when those wishing to become Americans came for that opportunity, for the possibilities, not expecting, not demanding, not using our own legal system to obtain benefits for themselves. The goal was to make it! Yes, they would celebrate their “heritage” but the goal was to be an American. It’s an exclusive club!

I remember seeing and feeling a sense of commonality after 9/11. We were Americans, if only for a short time. We promised to never forget, but we have forgotten. Today, all we hear about is being inclusive, understanding, forgiving and embracing diversity. All noble qualities no doubt, there is no debate about that. Still, a shared sense of purpose, a common goal, needs to exist, there is no escaping that. What is that goal?

The original stated goal was to establish a government based on the people, to protect the individual from government, and declare our independence from Britain. By doing so the intent was to create a nation for the common good of the people, a shared goal, a common goal. To accomplish this, individual loyalty, effort, and commitment was required! It still is. Individually we must always decide for the common good of the people. Anything that would be destructive of that, must be excluded. And that is where things get sticky.

It needs to be remembered that we broke our ties to Britain to establish a new system of governance. We decided it was no longer in our best interests to be inclusive, forgiving and embrace diversity, we wanted independence! With independence comes responsibility and accountability. Everyone has to be on the same page for that to happen. When is that “freedom” and when is that “oppression?” When is it sound judgement and when it is just prejudicial? Americans are individuals, not cultures. The great melting pot was an apt description of that goal. To become one, a commonality of purpose. An exclusive community, indeed a gated community. We have an HOA. It’s called the constitution. It applies to everyone, no exceptions, no exemptions.