Mailbag: Nationalism is no substitute for cooperation

Some Republicans may leave the GOP because they don’t like Donald Trump. Some Democrats may leave their party because they hate Hillary Clinton. Bernie Sanders left the Socialists so he could run for president as a Democrat.

Days ago, a slim majority of British voted to leave the European Union because they want “more control” over their own country’s destiny. That will no doubt prompt Scotland to demand another referendum to leave the United Kingdom because a majority of Scots voted to stay with the EU

There are periodic efforts in Quebec to leave Canada that may one day be successful. Meanwhile, there’s a movement in Texas to secede from the union.

In 1861, 11 states that did not vote for Abraham Lincoln (he wasn’t even on the ballot in any of them) decided to leave the Union and form the Confederacy, upset about fears that Lincoln would end slavery, something he never actually said he was going to do nor actually did.

In the case of the European Union, it is especially sad because of the horrific wars Europe has suffered in the last two centuries because of nationalistic tendencies among its myriad of nations. The EU had seemingly unified a long-simmering continent and created a strong economy which is on par with the United States. With Britain leaving, will France or Germany be next?

Don’t think the United States will be immune from the fallout. On June 24, the stock market plunged in reaction to the Brexit vote.

And look at the motivations behind secessionists and others who are angry about the way things are, or how they perceive, things to be. Usually they are guided by demagogues who rant about simplistic choices and find convenient scapegoats to blame for all that is wrong. That is certainly true of British leaders who favored Brexit. It is true among many Trump voters. It was true in 1933 Germany and 1861 America.

A better, but perhaps more difficult, path to take would be for people to listen to one another’s concerns, work together in a constructive way, make a few concessions here and there and try to reach a consensus on what actions to take. It would certainly make Congress more functional — think about the recent protests and diatribe we saw on Capitol Hill.

It would probably have been the better solution for Britain, which is now a verydivided and polarized country. And I don’t even want to think about the consequences if a bunch of zealots in Texas have their way.

People, including some of our political leaders and would-be presidents, need to grow up and learn how to effect solutions rather than catering to prejudices and anger of frustrated people who look to lash out at whatever or whomever they can.

Lenard Davis
Newport Beach

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Reflect this Independence Day

In 1776, representatives from the 13 British colonies in America gathered in Philadelphia to see if they could unite and declare independence from Britain and if successful, form a new nation.

Have you ever wondered why, at the risk of their lives and fortunes, did they do this? These brave gentlemen all had successful lives under the British. They were not enslaved or encumbered by the British, other than some taxes, yet they risked it all for independence. Think of the obstacles and risks they had to overcome to even assemble to discuss what amounted to treason.

The foremost obstacle was that each of the 13 colonies were successful in their own right and each had a degree of independence and goals of their own. Further, a large segment of the population was reasonably satisfied with their lives under British rule and were loyal to the Crown.

The leaders of the independence movement were faced with an almost impossible goal of getting 13 diverse colonies to give up some of the freedoms they already had to risk it all for separation from England.

Despite all the risks and dangers our founding fathers somehow united sufficiently to declare independence. During the resulting wars with England for our independence, many of the founders did lose their fortunes, freedoms, and even their lives. We should be forever grateful for their sacrifices.

Eleven years later, after the brutal war for independence, many of the founders and other patriots joined in writing a Constitution for the first truly free nation where free citizens are supposed to rule the government.

Again, that was almost as politically difficult for the representatives as generating the Declaration of Independence since each of the now free colonies still had their own needs and goals.

Issues like slavery, taxes, Native Americans, trade issues, regulations, foreign dealings etc. made it extremely difficult to create one document satisfactory to everyone. Though perhaps less than perfect, they came up with the most remarkable document ever created for the people.

A few of the Constitution’s authors had made it their life work to study the past attempts of other nations like England, France, and Greece and see where they had good ideas but had failed in various degrees to give freedom to their people.

All those other countries failed, or were not completely successful, probably because no government really likes the people to be in power. Our Constitution gave the power to the people, and I am sure if it were not for internal opposition here and there, the founders would have eliminated slavery right from the start and probably have given women the vote.

We all owe a lot to our brave, dedicated, brilliant founders. We should do all we can to preserve the wonderful freedoms they won for us at great cost to themselves. And of course, the nation owes a lot to our military who have for more than a century defended this country from all enemies at great cost to life and limb.

Dave Connell
Laguna Beach