I feel somewhat obligated to start this write up with a disclaimer. I neither agree nor disagree with the sentiments expressed below. While I am an American, I’m not the flag waving, patriotic, America, right or wrong, love it or leave it, type. I think there’s room for everybody. With that being said, I do understand the need for some people to demonstrate those tendencies. What follows is how the American Legion defined the concept of “Americanism” in 1919 at a national convention of its members held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“We recommend the establishment of a National Americanism Commission of the American Legion, whose duty shall be the endeavor to realize in the United States the basic ideal of this Legion of 100 percent Americanism through the planning, establishment, and the conduct of a continuous, constructive educational system designed to:
1) Combat all anti-American tendencies, activities and
propaganda;
2) Work for the education of
immigrants, prospective American citizens and
alien residents in the
principles of Americanism;
3)
Inculcate the ideal of Americanism in the
citizen population, particularly the basic American principle that the interest of all the people are above those of any special interest or so called class or section of the people;
4) Spread throughout the people of the nation the information as to the real nature and principles of American government;
5) Foster the teachings of Americanism in all schools.
There’s also an organization that goes by the name “Common Sense Americanism”@ www.csamerican.com that lists these principles as the foundation of what might be called Americanism. They go on define each of them in their own terms, which, for the sake of the reader, I will omit for the obvious amount of debate that might arise regarding their sentiments. Each one of us (Americans) probably has their own definition anyway.
1) Faith in a Greater Power
2) A Rooted Concept of
Morality
3) The Rule of
Truth
4) Mutual
Freedom
5) Equal Access to Representation
6) Respect for
Private Property
7) Equality of
Opportunity
8) Personal
Responsibility
9) Presumption of
Innocence
10)
Due Process of
Law
11) Local Governance
12) National Focus