Every Rose

City upon a Hill       

In 1630, John Winthrop wrote a speech about his plans in America.  Winthrop realized that America was an experiment that the entire world was observing.  He says, “we shall be as a city upon a hill, the eies of all people are upon us; soe that if wee shall deale falsly with our god in this worke wee have undertaken and soe cause him to withdraw his present help from us, wee shall be made a story and a byword through the world.”  In this speech he speaks on his theories of the new world.  His theory was that America would be a country in covenant with God, a country at peace, and a country that would stand as a model country for the world.              

In 1981 President Ronald Reagan quoted Winthrop with a different interpretation of his meaning.  Reagan’s City upon a hill “was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here.”  His interpretation focused more on the people living in the country, than the views of the ones living outside of it.             

During Reagan’s presidency he brought down many walls, both metaphorically and physically.  Not only did he bring down the Berlin wall in 1989, but most importantly he brought down the partisan wall.  Though a Republican, there were many Democrats (“Reagan Democrats”) that supported his ideas.  Reagan also brought down the wall of economy.  When he entered the White House, the county’s interest rates were at record highs, gas was being rationed, and the inflation was beyond control.  Reagan came in with a plan to decrease taxes, increase family income, decrease the poverty rate, and increase research, and entrepreneurship, and worked his plan until it was a success.  He created and filled 19- million jobs, and brought about such a drastic change in the economy that outsiders were compelled to ask, “Tell us about the American miracle.”  Because of his success America was once again looked to as leaders and respected like Winthrop said America should be.            

In 2006, America is a very different country.  Though the economy is increasing, job opportunities are available, and the amount of people owning homes is the highest it has ever been, the country is divided.  America is no longer the city upon a hill that either Winthrop or Reagan envisioned.  The country is very partisan and there is a hatred for the president that was never there in the time of “Ron”.  The president has lost the support of the people and in doing so, the people have lost the unity and togetherness they had in the 80’s.  This disunity among citizens has left America unsafe in that it is susceptible to attack from other countries.  America no longer has the respect of the world as a strong, United States, instead we are the weak country fighting brother vs. brother.