Making America great again …

For several months, this political mantra has been chanted
by thousands, printed on placards, billboards, caps and clothing; promoted by
organizations, political groups, religious bodies and individuals. Reviewing
the social, economic, environmental, governmental, international and moral
fluctuations, and what happened within the U.S. over the past 10 years alone
has given rise from some, and condemnation from others, to chant the mantra of
“Make America great again.”

Yet, that “mantra” requires clarification. At what point or
period in its history was America considered to be “great?” What criteria was
used affirming that status?

Was it during the early 1600 and 1700s, when thousands of
people came to these shores seeking “religious freedom,” relief from
indebtedness and a chance of freedom from moral and political tyrants? Or
during the Revolutionary War when the colonies achieved political freedom from
England? Or during the westward movement, when thousands of indigenous
inhabitants, who, by a type of “eminent domain mentality” of those “new”
Americans, were evicted from their native lands and habitats and were forced to
establish new dwelling places on unsettled and unfamiliar land. Meanwhile,
those same “eminently dominated” properties were sold to “newcomer” buyers – legally?

Or when:

• Thousands of African slaves were captured, sold, and
transported from their native lands to plant and harvest the cotton,
tobacco and sugar cane for the economic benefit of this nation’s capitalists?

• Or during the westward movement, when underpaid Chinese
and Irish immigrants were conscripted to build the Transcontinental Railroad
through this nation’s mountainous areas?

• Or during the Industrial Revolution, when business barons
developed and harnessed the honest labor of thousands for meager wages, benefiting
themselves?

• Or during the incarceration of thousands of innocent
Japanese citizens during World War II?

• Or during the proliferation of “conditional” voting
regulations and stipulations for Black and non-white voters?

When and on what grounds did Americans view themselves as being “great”? Or was that a figment of certain persons’ imaginations who,
at various periods of time, sought and still seek to view themselves as being
“great?”

When, in its history, did America lose its perceived
“greatness,” and why? What were the circumstances that caused the erosion of
that sense of “greatness?”

Was it when “white supremacy,” under Jim Crow and Ku Klux
Klan banners, established laws and practices hindering and preventing
individuals and organizations to succeed, and which usurped the cooperative
genius, abilities and freedoms of Blacks for their own benefits, imposing a
“second class citizenship” status upon them?

When were those historical moments and events when the
perception that America – that “nation under God” – lost its “greatness?” Clarify
those issues, situations, problems, accomplishments, conflicts, set-backs,
broken dreams, personal and collective organizational, moral, and financial
mess-ups which became tinder and fuel, destroying the hopes and desires for
this nation to rise above and move beyond whatever the basis for America’s
perceived “greatness” was!

It is true that the U.S. has reached and has been most
influential and supportive of so many of the medical, educational, economic,
political, governmental and even environmental advances around the world. Yet
so many of the perceptions and actions by the leadership and populace of this
nation, since its inception, have given numerous reasons to challenge the truth
and depth of America’s “greatness!”

It is true that thousands of people came to these shores
seeking and receiving “religious freedom”; relief from indebtedness; and a
chance of freedom from moral and political tyrants. But others also came to
these shores! Persons with a desire to personally benefit from the resources of
others.

Historically, as legitimate Americans – as so many
immigrants were – the desires for some to benefit “self” at the expense of
“others” – regardless of their ethnicity, religion or social status – soon
overshadowed the minds of many. What was, and still is, behind that intense
determination to “evict” those long established residents and original
landowners from their property and to establish “eminent domains” for
themselves.

Even to force those original landowners to establish new
dwelling places on unsettled and unfamiliar land. Or to justify those
“evictions,” and then sell that same “eminently dominated” property and
dominating the “newcomer” buyers for their own benefit –legally!  The “Trail of Tears” still flows for many in
America.

How is it that laws of servitude and indenture could be
imposed upon those “new England,” and “new Spain” and “new France” immigrants
and “eviction notices” be imposed on those long-established residents of the “New
World?”

Or to justify the institution of slavery of persons from
other nations for the sustainment of those inhumane personal and business
benefits? Even to establish laws to “rational-lie” and “just-a-lie” those
immoral practices! Is this the America that is sought to be “made great” again?

Include those immigrants from other ethnic, cultural,
political and religious countries who, while seeking the same hopes and dreams
to better opportunities for their families, were relegated to become slaves and
chattel for those who sought to profiteer from their social, financial,
linguistic and educational limitations.

What about the destruction of the homes and businesses of
those segregated communities based on trumped-up lies and jealousy of the
economic, educational and social advancements of those ethnic, religious and
cultural groups who had come to make real the “American dream” for their
families?

Is this the nature and criteria for “greatness” that
America is being encouraged to “return to?

A greater tragedy and travesty is also realized in those
religious bodies and individuals who promote this fallacious appeal. Whether or
not the inclusion of the phrase “one nation under God” should constitutionally
be included in our Pledge to Allegiance does not change the fact that the
populace of the U.S. adheres to the concept that America is a “nation under God.”
Many others may attribute its “greatness” to its adherence to “religious
freedom.” If these are the criteria, then how can a true believer in God
and servant of God advocate an appeal for “greatness” that is based on
immoral and ungodly principles and practices?

The preamble to the Declaration of Independence in 1776 of
this nation declared:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are
created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable
Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Yet, in the 1857 Supreme Court decision in the Dred Scott
case, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney stated, “blacks were regarded as beings of
an inferior order and had no rights which the white man is bound to respect.” That
decision devalued Black people and affirmed a “legal right” to treat Black
people as chattel.

This is how persons of other ethnic groups have also been
treated during this “great” nation’s history! How can this nation, which
devalues any portion of its citizenry, qualify to be a nation under God?

Of the 670 some verses of scripture which refer to something
or someone being “great,” only seven verses speak about the “greatness of a
nation.”

Those seven verses – Genesis 12:2, 17:20, 21:18, 46:3, and
Exodus 32:10 – refer to God making a “great nation” out of Abram, Ishmael,
Jacob and Moses respectively.

But only Deuteronomy 4:7-8 clearly confirms what makes a “great
nation.”

“For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh
unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And
what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as
all this law, which I set before you this day?”

Biblically, a nation’s “greatness” rests solely on its acceptance
of, commitment to the law of God; and its obedient relationship with God as its
ruler; and God’s word as its principles of life in every arena of its existence
and operation.

The nation of Israel was the first and only nation in the
history of mankind which had committed itself to live and operate under the laws
of God. Other nations have arisen, flourished and died out. But God declared in
Deuteronomy 4:7-8 that Israel was viewed as a “great nation” simply because of
its commitment and obedience to God’s laws.

Yet, the nation of Israel has strayed from God’s law on
numerous occasions. And that is the very reason that God allowed Israel to be
conquered by her enemies and adversaries.

The U.S. must align its laws, moral principles and practices
to comply with the laws of God in order to become a “great nation.”

Unless and until the United States, the president, every
elected, appointed and assumed leader and every citizen accept and commit
themselves to believe in the rule and reign of the word, will and way of almighty
God in every aspect of their lives, America, nor any other nation, can ever be
viewed as a “great nation.” Any and every conscious and deliberate deviation
from the word of God hinders, and will hinder, this and any other nation from
being “great” in the sight of God.

Pastor Samuel W. Hale Jr. is the former pastor of Zion
Missionary Baptist Church and president of J.L. Powell Mission Ministries.

This article appears in Sheriff’s department hiring under scrutiny.