In Deconstructing America, Buchanan states that there has been a revolution in thoughts and beliefs about who we are as a nation, in the United States and Great Britain in the fifty years between Queen Elizabeth’s two visits to Jamestown. At the time of her first visit in 1957, both countries still had a white Christian based majority. Fifty years later, both nations were more diverse, more multi-cultural, and more multi-lingual.
Buchanan offers as evidence of this change the facts that Richmond, Virginia no longer calls itself the Capital of the Confederacy and the Confederate flag is no longer flown. They no longer celebrate Lee-Jackson Day, but now celebrate Martin Luther King Day. There is now a statue of Arthur Ashe, a great African-American tennis player, alongside the statues of several prominent Civil War greats (Buchanan 596). These all represent a change to a more diverse society in America, a based on his tone, it would appear that Buchanan is not a huge fan of the changes that have occurred.
During her speech at Jamestown in 2007, Queen Elizabeth remarked, in reference to Jamestown, that, “Three great civilizations came together for the first time – western European, native American, and African” . Buchanan objects to this statement for three reasons. First, the Jamestown settlers were English Christians, not eastern Europeans, the native Americans were not necessarily welcoming of the settlers, and the Africans came here as slaves, in chains, and were not freed for hundreds of years. It was more like a clash of three civilizations than a coming together. The real significance of Jamestown, according to Buchanan, was that it was the beginning of the United States and the beginning of the British Empire (Buchanan 595).
Buchanan discusses how the country has become more diverse over the years, especially since the passage of the 1965 Immigration Act. Prior to 1965, most of the groups of immigrants that came to the United States were European, or at least white, and from a Christian background. Nearly ninety percent of the nation came from European roots and ninety-five percent of the nation was Christian (Buchanan 602). Since 1965, the tides of immigrants coming to the country represent other regions of the world, including Asians, Arabs, and Latinos, changing the racial dynamics of the nation as well as the religious base of the country. Now, the European core of the country is down to sixty-seven percent and shrinking. Christianity has faded in favor of secularism (Buchanan 602). As Buchanan puts it, the ethno-cultural core of the nation is dissolving. I agree with his assessment that the country has become more diverse, but I do not agree that this must lead to the downfall of the nation. The nation can still thrive with the merging of different cultures, religions, and nationalities.
Buchanan theorizes that a nation that is based on democracy, diversity, and equality is not going to survive. He claims that in the past, multi-ethnic states remained viable only by an authoritarian regime or a dominant ethno-cultural core. Those nations who lost either one of these factors ceased to exist. He listed the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia as prime examples (Buchanan 601). However, those examples are all of dictatorships that failed. To blame their failure on the multi-cultural aspects of their society is misleading. There may well have been other factors involved in the failure of these nations, like the lack of viable programs once those supported by the despotic regimes collapsed, or interference from outside forces. He also points out the weakened status of the United Kingdom, with individual states, seeking independence now that England is not such a powerhouse (Buchanan 601). Again, it is a different situation that the United States, given the fact that they were each independent nations before being “united” by England. Perhaps the people of those nations long for their own country rather than an ongoing confederation with a former colonial state. The United States, being formed as a democracy ruled by the people, has an advantage over other multi-cultural nations in that “the people” make decisions and the nation’s strength has always come from its diverse nature. The original premise of the United States, that “all men are created equal”, while not always practiced in deed, still remains at the center of the nation’s identity. Despite the lack of a racial majority, or of a central faith, the multiple cultures that make up the nation only add to the strength of the nation.
Buchanan states that anti-discrimination laws require the sacrificing of freedoms. He mentions that today there are thousands of corporate employees working to avoid breaking laws against discrimination (Buchanan 601). It would appear that the freedoms Americans are sacrificing are the freedoms to discriminate in housing, hiring, and in relating to others. In other words, the white majority can no longer legally continue to oppress the minorities (Buchanan 601). The majority now has to actually go out of its way to treat others equally and give them equal opportunity. This severely limits the freedoms that the white majority is used to. The tradeoff’s, in my mind, are worth it. For far too long, the white majority has enjoyed too much privilege at the expense of others. The minorities in the country has been oppressed and held back, by legal means as well as illicit ones. While it may seem inconvenient to many to have to work to ensure equal treatment of immigrants and minorities, it is vital for the good of the country. It is time for the nation to truly display the notion that “all men are created equal” that is the cornerstone of the United States Constitution.
References
Buchanan, P. J. "Deconstructing America." Colombo, G., Cullen, R., & Lisle, B. Rereading America. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2013. 593-603. Textbook.
