AMERICA’S SIXTH CRUCIBLE?

By Edwin Cooney

A crucible has been defined as a refractory container or oven in which a substance is heated to achieve its maximum degree of usefulness. A kiln for clay, a smelter for iron ore, and an oven for baking or roasting food are all examples. Liberty--America’s most precious gift--has passed from time to time through crucibles that test its strength, flexibility, its durability and even its lasting applicability.

The years 1775 through 1789 marked our first great crucible. Its elements, war, political independence, divisive political confederation and economic dislocation, constituted its uncertainty. Adoption in 1787 and 1788 of our Constitution demonstrated that independent states could join in union for their mutual protection and prosperity. Thus, national unity under the nonpartisan leadership of President George Washington brought our first crucible to a close.

The 1800 election of the Democratic Republican Thomas Jefferson over the Federalist John Adams brought about Crucible Number two. This crucible, substantially milder though politically contentious, demonstrated that Americans could be sufficiently energized to master difficulties and even expansion “…from sea to shining sea” even under partisan leadership.

The fiery and devastating Civil War, 1861-1865, was America’s third crucible: its elements were hatred, family division, violence and death. Nevertheless, it answered in the affirmative Abraham Lincoln’s great challenge at Gettysburg. Out of its turmoil there would evolve -- ever so slowly --“a new birth of freedom.” This “new birth of freedom” would eventually include, in the full flower of its gift, the participation in our national affairs of all the people regardless of race, religion, station or gender.

Crucible Number Four, “the Great Depression,” occurred between 1929 and 1941. Its elements were economic restriction and dislocation, unemployment, home foreclosures, bank and business failures and even near starvation. At its zenith in 1933, Franklin Roosevelt reconstructed governmental and social institutions for the benefit of a greater number of Americans than ever before.

Crucible Number Five, from 1941 through 1990, constituted America’s most formidable international threat. Its elements were hot war, “cold war” (limited war), international treachery and, most dangerous of all, the threat of nuclear annihilation by the world’s two ideologically driven superpowers. Through a combination of economic, political and military pressures, presidents named Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Carter, Ford, Reagan, and Bush demonstrated that “collective security” could bring to an increasing number of socially democratic nations that essential physical security against marauding dictatorships. By the end of this period, America was the world’s uncontested “superpower.”

Two events occurred on Monday, January 22, 1973. First, former President Lyndon B. Johnson suffered a fatal heart attack at his ranch on the Perdenales. Second, in Washington, the Supreme Court decided by a five to four vote (Roe v. Wade) that women had the right to an abortion since it was a private decision between a woman and her doctor. The decision was somewhat obscured by LBJ’s death as well as by the impending peace agreement that President Nixon and Henry Kissinger were arranging in Vietnam. Encompassing as it did both political and moral implications, Roe v. Wade would be morally and politically potent enough to shape the agenda and thus the future of American politics.

Since for thirty plus years, Americans have been dividing themselves into conservative and liberal, social, political--and even more significantly--religious camps, it is tempting to conclude that January 22nd, 1973 could be regarded as the birthday of America’s sixth great crucible! Its elements are the predominance of moral conclusions over practical assessments when it comes to public issues, the blatant intensification of partisanship in the media, and, most of all, American’s increasing intolerance for authority, especially when that authority is in the hands of one’s political opponents.

Hence we’re plagued today, it seems to this observer, by a crisis of the spirit, too often exploited solely for political advantage by the most articulate party and media personalities. Name calling, historical, and economic finger-pointing all dominate our political, social and religious intercourse. Too often, a sense of personal victimization prevails in constituency groups whether they be white, black, gay and lesbian, Christian, Jewish, agnostic, or even disabled. Of course, no one can ever satisfy the taxpayer!

Tragic as it was, the shootings in Tucson are almost an American tradition. After all, four presidents have been assassinated; five others in the twentieth century have come close: Theodore Roosevelt in 1912; FDR in 1933; Truman in 1950; Ford twice in a two week period in 1975; and President Reagan in 1981. Additionally, fistfights, canings, drawn pistols and even shootings have occurred at least twice in the halls of Congress. The real tragedy of today’s incident may well be America’s name-calling, finger-pointing partisan response. As I see it, the most vital component of continuing liberty is the recognition of and the respect for political diversity.

If indeed we’re living in Crucible Number Six, it’s obvious that our passage through its white heat will not be up to elected or self-appointed and commercially sponsored celebrity “leaders.” Nor will it ultimately be in the hands of our clergy. Clearly, we alone must find the way!

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
EDWIN COONEY