The myth of American ‘greatness’ (Part One)

The White House is on a mission to “make America great again.” But when exactly was America great? Maybe we take it to mean liberty and justice for all. I recall a highlight of the school years was the daily standing recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to “one Nation under God … with liberty and justice for all.” But, “liberty and justice” have never been “for all.” American injustice refers to systemic and individual unfairness, often rooted in historical racism and inequality, manifesting as violations of rights, discriminatory treatment, and unequal access to resources, seen in areas like criminal justice, healthcare, housing, and economic opportunity, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups. It's the gap between ideals of equality and the reality of unequal treatment, involving deeply ingrained biases and practices within societal structures. In other words, the country's ideals, enshrined in documents like the Pledge of Allegiance, have not consistently applied to everyone despite constitutional promises. The myth of American greatness highlights the gap between America's promise of “liberty and justice for all” and its historical and ongoing harsh realities of injustice! True greatness requires confronting these issues, not denying them. Be encouraged!

Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., spiritually gifted Bible teacher & expositor