Exception to the Rule

The chaos occurring currently in Egypt and the Near-East reminds me of how grateful I am to live in this United States of America.  I cannot comprehend how difficult it must be to live in a land where one despot is traded for another.  It's disconcerting when of all the parties vying for the power seat, the Muslim Brotherhood, with its ties to Hamas and other Jihadist organizations is seen as what would possibly be the closest thing to a "democracy".

While I'm definitely still young, I have been to quite a few countries over the years (Afghanistan, Kuwait, Korea, Qatar, Russia to name a few).  While people do experience varying level of personal freedom is some of these countries, they all pale in comparison to the freedom experienced here.  Americans truly are blessed to live where we do.

I sometimes wonder why it is that America's fate has turned out so differently from that of other countries.  Is it the American dream?  Is it democracy?  Is it capitalism?  There are many elements in this grand equation, but I think there is one overriding factor:

A well-known Russian author named Mikhail Bulgakov explained the American phenomenon, though unintentionally and indirectly, in his book Heart of a Dog.  The book is actually a satire of communist Russia.  In the story, a dog undergoes an operation that leads to its development of human-like characteristics.  It eventually becomes so humanoid that it is even able to obtain registration (a national ID) and a name.  Eventually, though, the man-dog turns back into a dog.  The surgeon remarks that this occurred because the subject, despite its humanoid appearance, always had the heart of a dog.

Social change cannot be forced.  The shedding of one social structure or government and the donning of another doesn't simply happen overnight and is always in danger of reverting to its original state.  The transformation from despotism to a free society is obviously even more difficult.  Those in power of course are unwilling to sacrifice it without a fight.

This, I believe, is why nation-building is so ineffective.  Sure, an outside force can come into an area and create some semblance of a new government and social structure, but once that outside support is gone, the house of cards will likely come crashing down.  There are some exceptions to the rule.  America is no doubt the shining example of this.

So why did freedom take hold here?  Simple.  America as we know it is not the result of an exclusive transformation from one society to another.  It was founded on principles of freedom and liberty.  As Thomas Paine eluded in common sense, America is the closest instance in known history where a natural society was able to take place.  The founders of America were fleeing despotism and dictatorships in search of religious and economic freedom.  While there was in fact considerable resistance among the early Americans to fight for the revolution for freedom, the social obstacles were overcome because the residents of this new world were largely those who rejected despotism on principle and had freedom and liberty in their hearts.

In the simplest of terms, America is a fluke.  An exception to the rule always in danger of succumbing to nature and reverting to the norm a statist society with a more oppressive government and less personal freedom.  We have, as Franklin said, a republic, if we can keep it.