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Show Volume XXX Issue VI The Ogden Valley News Page 3 June 1, 2023 Editor’s View American Nationalism & Exceptionalism Memorial Day is a time that freedom- America’s exceptional efforts to help raise and lift loving Americans stop to remember and honor military service members, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice, who paid the ultimate price for our country and the freedoms upheld by the American way—an “exceptional” or uncommon way. American exceptionalism means that our nation has instituted and upheld an uncommon mix of liberty, limited government, natural rights, and religious liberty that continues to make this country so unique. Today, it is still the only nation in the world whose legitimacy stems from “natural rights” and “natural law.” In September 2020, Dr. Kim R. Holmes wrote that America’s nationalism is different from other countries. What does this mean? American patriotism and nationalism have recently been on trial. The progressive movement afoot in America has been trying to paint patriotism as something to be ashamed of. It has been trying to undermine the love of country, the love of the American flag—the love of anything and everything that represents America and her history, goodness, and miraculous birth and exceptionalism. Not only would progressives have you believe that there is nothing great or exceptional about America, they would also have you despise her and her legacy. They would have you spurn her historic heroes and those who built this nation, who instituted the great “American experiment,” which created the greatest nation on earth. They would have you turn away from her stars and stripes and kneel instead of stand at allegiance when the flag is raised, the national anthem is sung, or the pledge of allegiance is recited. They would have you topple monuments that honor great American leaders and patriots from the past, and sneer at those who call themselves patriots today. They would have you turn your back on America, the country that has brought so much light and goodness, not only to her own citizens, but also to the rest of the world. Charles Murray notes in his book American Exceptionalism that this exceptionalism cannot be denied—this exceptionalism that is tied to what, traditionally, it has meant to be an American as noted by Alexis de Tocqueville: our propensity for industry, egalitarianism, religiosity, and community. And while revisionist historians continue to criticize and rewrite American history through a modern lens, it will never change her America’s exceptionalism. Political scientist Seymour Lipset traces the country’s exceptionalism back to the American Revolution and the resulting beginning of a nation built on a distinct ideology with a belief that the new nation had a unique mission to transform not only self but the rest of the world, too, knowing that all could benefit from the human right of liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, republicanism, democracy, and laissez-faire economics; thus, A Clean Mountain is a Happy Mountain We did it! On May 13, we banded together and cleaned our home—Ogden Valley. It was great to see so many out and about helping to preserve our beautiful valley. Dozens gathered in the early Saturday morning sun to clean up Huntsville Park, the shores of Pineview Reservoir, and the greater areas of our mountain home. Huntsville, Eden, and Liberty accumulated all kinds of trash over the winter: cans, plastics, face masks, even car bumpers. Now that all this trash has been gathered and hauled away out of the Valley by Weber County crews, we can all breathe a little easier! The valleyPictured above are Aspen wide cleanup Vierra and Brandi Hammon was orgawith some of the trash collected. nized by ML Elevates and wouldn’t have been possible without Ogden Valley’s Spring Clean sponsors: Mountain Luxury, Carlos and Harley’s, Big Canyon Homes, The Ogden Valley News, Burton Dental, Root & Petal, Ashlie Roe Team with Crosscountry Mortgage, Peterson Builders, Peddlers Andy Primbs with Fiona, Cafe & Catering, Sylvie, and Tallulah help Bertoldi Architects, to clean up our valley. and all the great volunteers and friends who helped spread the word and clean our home! Although there is still more to do, our mountains are just a little bit happier thanks to everyone’s efforts. We look forward to the next time we can come together again as a community for a deep clean of our mountain home! other nations through U.S aide—economic (the U.S. being the most generous of any other country in the history of the world), military, humanitarian, social, intellectual, and even spiritual. American patriotism and pride in our nation is not to be ridiculed or demeaned. It is well earned and deserved. And unlike other national or patriotic fervor that has gone awry throughout history, as in Nazi Germany, Maoist China, or nationalist France in 1789, there is a critical difference between these countries’ fervor and Americas. Yoram Hazony notes that there are two principles that define the difference between misplaced and well-placed nationalism: 1. The “moral minimum required for legitimate government,” which includes “minimum requirements for a life of personal freedom and dignity for all, and 2. The “right of national self-determination,” or rights accruing to nations “cohesive and strong enough to secure their political independence.” Nationalism crosses the line when it suggests that it represents a universalism that can override the legitimate rights of the individual or another state and its sovereignty, or when it uses national interest as an excuse for conquest of others at home or abroad. While it was the collective grouping of individuals who created the American state, once a state crosses the line and begins to supersede and usurp the rights of the individual and begins curbing and overriding their freedoms in order to benefit the masters of the state who then use the state to control the individual through propaganda and politicized institutions, the true patriot and nationalist begins to succumb to tyranny and slavery of the mind and soul—the antithesis of the hard fought for freedoms of the past. Today, sacred American institutions that were designed to support the individual and the individual’s liberties and freedoms to grow, prosper, Winters Grove Trail bridge washed out near Je昀昀erson Hunt Campground in Huntsville. The bridge rise, and then turn and offer a supporting hand to has been washed out on both sides. Photo on the left is courtesy of Mike Engstrom. Mark Purrington their brother have been hijacked by Marxist pro- of Eden took the picture on the right on a bike ride May 15. gressives who have infiltrated and usurped control of these institutions. These confiscated institutions include our schools, churches, government offices, media outlets, nonprofits, and even homes and families. Institutions that once promoted the American ideals of patriotism, individualism, selfThe Huntsville Utah Stake is conducting a weekly community “Ogden sufficiency, limited government, love of God and Valley Emergency Net” every Wednesday evening at 8:00 p.m. on General family, are being gutted and revamped to promote Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), Channel 18. This will provide an opportunity the Marxist way that touts the state as the almighty god and the giver of all wisdom, good, and truth. for neighborhoods experiencing flooding or other problems to exchange develThis Memorial Day, take a hard look at what oping news and/or request assistance short of calling 911 for law enforcement it truly means to be an American. Let’s all do our or medical response. The primary Net Controller is Shawn Tuttle, with Craig part to honor our patriots of yesterday and those of today who continue to stand up for liberty and Bradford acting as the Alternate Controller. Otherwise, GMRS Channel 18 that which makes America truly exceptional. will continue to be monitored on a 24-hour basis until normalcy returns to the A sincere thank you to all who serve and Valley. All GMRS-licenses residents of Ogden Valley are invited to participate. honor this great nation. God bless America—a truly exceptional country. Winter’s Grove Trail Bridge Washed Out ----- Public Notice----- |
