To shamelessly poach a command-term from the ‘Star Trek’ series, let me profess that I believe America, herself, has a Prime Directive (PD). And looking backwards from the last 244 years we can probably agree on what it encompasses.
Some people will pop-right-out and thoughtlessly declare, “why I know what that it is, it’s freedom, …or liberty, …or faith in the Almighty, …or NASCAR, The New Yorker, WWF, Halekulani, …or the latest and the cheapest fad, my [media-manipulated] identity”, etc. etc.
In Star Trek, the PD was not a thing, it was not an adjective, or a noun, it wasn’t even an idea. It was an action plan based upon survival & prosperity. Starfleet General Order #1
America’s Prime Directive pre-dates the forming of the country. It’s older than 1776.
America’s Prime Directive germinated the important stuff; i.e. the Declaration of Independence, the Revolution, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution. It continues to buttress them, and they to it.
America’s Prime Directive is both mystical and thematic, and yet it’s an action-oriented pursuit.
America’s Prime Directive says everyone is free to engage, but to whom much is given, much is expected.
When America does things in alignment with her Prime Directive, she is always successful, and everyone participates.
We have seen the PD more clearly at work in the early days, it had even garnered a temporary early American moniker, “Manifest Destiny”. One of those less-than-humble, jingoistic slogans like “Lebensraum”, “the Sun Never Sets…”, “Middle Kingdom”, etc.
But those are clearly manipulative and I like to think America has wized-up a bit.
The Prime Directive was there when Americans built the Panama Canal. It was there when the golden spike was (temporarily) nailed at Promontory Summit, when Lincoln cut his executive order emancipating the slaves in the middle of the Civil War.
If you haven’t seen the PD lately, it’s been a bit difficult. In the 20th Century America got distracted by a great worldwide depression, two world wars, and a long distance marathon known as the Cold War. But it was there.
It was with John F. Kennedy when he sent us to the Moon, “not because it was easy, but because it was hard.” The Prime Directive was also with Dr. King when he wrote those letters from the Birmingham jail.
America’s Prime Directive is 5 words: “To Be A Pioneer Nation.”
It has never failed us.
Sellers is a South Park Republican who lives in incorporated Oro Valley. His background is federal tech-transfer commercialization. He is on Facebook.