“What made an American in the past was a belief in and devotion to the idea and ideal of individual liberty, of a self-governing society not only in the form of political representation, but far more importantly in the vision of self-governing individuals possessing certain inalienable rights to life, liberty, honestly acquired property, free and voluntary and peaceful association with any and all others, through which each had the freedom to pursue happiness as they saw and desired it.”—Richard M. Ebbling
I strive to live a “well-centered” life—maintaining balance in my Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social dimensions. Hence, discussion in any one dimension cannot occur without consideration of the others. Politically, I am seeing an ever-increasing divide between “progressivism” and “conservative nationalism” in the United States. Personally, I find this concerning. Recently, I read an article by Richard M. Ebeling1 comparing the two, and this reminded me that everything is Spiritual.
There are calls from the political right (those fully immersed in conservative nationalism) for return to our “Christian values” as a nation. Those on the progressive left (though overly generalized) would call for greater government control. There is more complexity to both political sides, of course, but I am not enough of a political scientist (nor do I want to explore these differences in detail here) to elaborate. Personally, I find myself increasingly driven to a more libertarian point of view. When I lived in conservative Holland, Michigan, I found my views being driven toward a more progressive stance. Now living outside of progressive Portland, Oregon, I find my political needle shifting back to the right. Ultimately, I have become more “well-centered” politically.
I find neither the right nor the left to be Spiritual. I will certainly ruffle some feathers saying this, but you can’t say much anymore without upsetting someone. So be it.
I define the Spiritual dimension of wellness (“well-centered fitness”) as the understanding that one is not the center of the Universe. It is the belief in something greater than self.
Politically, the left might argue this as a cause for Socialism; the right might, alternatively, argue this as a cause for Nationalism. While there is validity to both points of view, Spiritual liberty is bigger than self, family, community, state, and national boundaries. The American ideal of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” is a Spiritual ideal. Liberty is also a very Christian ideal, if we really focus on the red letters.
Spiritual liberty embraces the welfare of all. It suggests that no one is above another (and in “one” that can be individual, family, corporation, nation, etc.). Spiritual liberty suggest universal freedom and universal responsibility. It embraces the idea of individual Purpose. Conservative nationalism and Socialism fail to capture these.
I could dwell on the long list of ways that American politics are failing, but I much prefer to be optimistic and positive. This post will undoubtedly disturb some readers. I hope it does—in the most positive sense. If it disturbs in the defensive sense, that should be cause to support my case. Spiritual well-centeredness, after all, is not divisive and does not favor the labeling of individuals. It considers only “us” rather than “’us’ versus ‘them’”.
“American ‘nationalism,’ if we are to call it this, is neither identity-politics socialism nor this newly proclaimed ‘conservative’ national socialism. It was, and should be, an allegiance to individual liberty and unlimited economic freedom of trade and association for all things peaceful. The American nation is and should be a country of free individuals bound together by a belief in a society of liberty, not a collective mythology of tribes, races, or ‘classes’ to which the individual is subservient and for which he may be sacrificed and subjugated.”—Richard M. Ebbling
Be your best (for others) today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!