We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident
by Evan Feinberg
Over the past few days, our nation has engaged in an important conversation concerning the despicable acts of hateful people in Charlottesville. I have been shaken by the images of hate while at the same time encouraged by the many voices who have come out to unequivocally condemn white supremacism and racism of any kind.
But the dialogue goes deeper than condemning the recent bigoted and violent actions in Charlottesville. We’re discussing the nature of what it means to be an American. The atrocious behavior of the white nationalist protestors in Charlottesville is un-American. But it’s not just the violent behavior. From the swastikas and other symbols to the language and ideology of hate, we saw on display much that is at odds with the promise our great country.
You see, what it means to be an American is unique. We aren’t bound by geography, ethnicity, or shared heritage. We are bound by shared principles. In our Declaration of Independence, we have a shared vision for what it means to be an American. It means that we believe, fundamentally, that all men are created equal. There is no us vs. them — only a shared respect for the moral dignity of every person and that everyone is endowed by their creator with the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
In 1852, as our country was in the throes of slavery and a civil war, an American hero and former slave named Frederick Douglass exhorted his countrymen to defend the virtues outlined in our founding documents: “Stand by those principles, be true to them on all occasions, in all places, against all foes, and at whatever cost.”
Our commitment to these principles is what makes this country great. Douglass called them “saving principles,” and “the ring-bolt to the chain” of our nation’s destiny. Many throw around the term “American exceptionalism,” with little notion as to its true meaning. We aren’t exceptional because of our geography — our rivers, lakes, and mountains — or the natural resources under our feet. We aren’t exceptional because our people are smarter or more talented. And while there’s much to be proud of in our history, our story has been uneven. But throughout our history, we have been exceptional when we pursue — albeit imperfectly — our commitment to the principles of the Declaration.
I am grateful to be working for an organization, Stand Together, with the mission of unifying the American people around these principles. We strive to offer the American people a common cause — helping the least fortunate to transform their lives. We pursue this mission because of our belief that each and every individual has nearly unlimited potential to contribute to others.
Where politics and ideology divide, solutions have the potential to unite. We have seen it time and time again. We see prison programs where racial cliques give way to mutual goals of learning entrepreneurship. We’ve seen it in education programswhere learning bridges socioeconomic or cultural divides. We’ve seen it on the streets, as mentorship and shared experience breaks down racial and ethnic barriers.
Together we can take advantage of this moment to renew our commitment to our vision as a country. We must start by unequivocally condemning those whose rejection of these principles leads to fear, hate, and violence. And we move forward by working together to make sure this vision is a reality for all Americans.
By standing together against the foes of our founding principles, we move closer to realizing the full promise of America.
As the executive director of Stand Together, Evan Feinberg provides vision, enthusiasm, organizational leadership, and direction. Evan is an experienced leader in non-profit management and social welfare causes. He previously served as the president of Generation Opportunity, a Millennial advocacy organization, and in various roles on Capitol Hill. Evan and his wife, Sarah, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, live in Virginia with their three sons, Luke and twin boys, Zack and Jake.
