7 February 2009

In his book, Who Are We? Dr. Huntington describes the American Creed as it was popularized by Gunnar Myrdal in 1944.  It is useful to recall, as it has been universally acceped, both in this country and abroad to describe "the American identity." 

The principles of the creed have three outstanding characteristics: they have been unusually stable over time, until quite recently they enjoyed general agreement among Americans, and their origins lie with the Protestant religion.

Myrdal spoke of "the essential dignity of the individual human being, of the fundamental equality of all men , of the fundamental equality of all men, and of certain inalienable rights to freedom, justice, and a fair opportunity."

Jefferson wrote of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" in the Declaration of Independence.

Tocquville found Americans agreeing on "liberty and equality, the liberty of the press, the right of association, the jury and the responsibility of the agents of the government."

Bryce (1890s): political beliefs including the sacred rights of the individual, the people as the source of political power, government limited by law, and "the less government the better."

Daniel Bell (20th century): "individualism, achievement and equality of opportunity" as central values, citing also "the tension between liberty and equality, which framed the great philosophical debates in Europe (that were) dissolved by an individualism which encompassed both."

Seymour Martin Lyset cited principles: "liberty, egalitarianism (of opportunity and respect, not result or condition), individualism, populism, laissez-faire."

Huntington sums this up by saying "the American Creed, in short, is Protestantism without God, the secular credo of the 'nation with the soul of a church'."

What has changed, if anything?  Surely we all (most of us?) give this lip service (or mostly we do).   I shall leave it to readers to make their own evaluations.