American Sincerity

Chapter 5

Sincerity

               How to be sincere as an American?

               Be truthful, honest and trustworthy.

               If you are these things within then expressing American Sincerity is a natural consequence.

               The word ‘Sincere’ is defined as ‘not hypocritical or deceitful, open, genuine.

               It is the idea of being genuine that is at the heart of American Sincerity.

               Mark Twain has said, “Any emotion, if it is sincere, is involuntary.”  It is a quality of American Sincerity that it be involuntary.  It is a learned and appreciated value.

               It is not only a kind act or a selfish act performed for business reasons.  Sincerity – American Sincerity – is absolutely essential to the American way of life and the proper operation of our government – if that operation is to “…form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity…”

Walt Whitman, a great American poet wrote, “Have you learned the lessons only of those who admired you, and were tender with you, and stood aside for you? Have you not learned great lessons from those who braced themselves against you, and disputed passage with you?”

Who hasn’t heard that the rebuke of the parents is for the good of the children?  Who has not seen in it in action?  These are sincere actions and the same kind of sincerity only outwardly expressed to our elected representatives and fellow citizens in order to ensure that our government is doing right and not running wrong.

If you do not take a sincere hand in the running of this government and express yourself with your own brand of American Sincerity – the results will likely not be what you expect and more importantly could be things detrimental to you, your family or your friends – if not all three.

President John F. Kennedy said, ‘Sincerity is always subject to proof.’  What that means to me is that if you are sincere in your convictions and they are true then, when examined they will be proven so and you will be vindicated.  If in the observation of your convictions or the positions you assert it becomes obvious they might be wrong or need to be changed or corrected – it will be your sincerity that allows for forgiveness and understanding so that progress can continue.

Just because the majority believes something is right does not make it so.  You may know something that everyone else does not and if you do not share it they may continue on in their ignorance to their own destruction and even harm you as they pass.  We must all take a hand in our affairs and the best way to do it is with a sincere heart, clear mind and attention.  It is well and good to have elected ‘representation’ but sometimes even our representatives may not be representing us as we wish.  What do Americans do then?

If you believe sincerely that something should be done differently then it follows that by expressing yourself you will be expressing American Sincerity.  It is not always easy or convenient but it is a duty and when done should be done well, I am sure you will agree.

Emily Dickinson, a great American poet, wrote this :

               Judgement is justest

 

               Judgment is justest

When the Judged,

His action laid away,

Divested is of every Disk

But his sincerity.

 

Honor is then the safest hue

In a posthumous Sun --

Not any color will endure

That scrutiny can burn.

 

               This poem may be interpreted many ways but considering she is an American poet and talking about sincerity I will interpret it at this time along those lines.  It is important to be sincere and express your own kind of American Sincerity because in the end, should the whole affair become public or you, yourself wish to share your wisdom with others – whether they be your friends, family or children – it is the sincerity that will tell you apart and your actions will have a light thrown upon them.

               By sincerely striving for liberty, freedom and keeping in mind equality and kindness – the sincere person can perform their civic duty, if not easily, at least with a clean conscience.  The end does not justify the means.  The way you play the game really does matter.  Whether you win or lose is of little consequence in the long term unless, of course, you had not tried your best and had been insincere.

               Socrates, an ancient philosopher tells us, “The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.”

               If you desire to be a good person and a fair dealing person and a successful person then it is best to begin with sincere intentions of reaching those goals.  If you intend to succeed in business, care for your family and be a good citizen then it would be best, again, to be sincere in those intentions as your inner sincerity will make it easier for you to attain those goals because they will be easy to see in the light of your sincerity to achieve them.

               American Sincerity is an individual thing.  It is proven in the fire of action.  An insincere act will fall apart of its own structure while sincerity will follow through.  If the action fails or is incomplete – the sincere American will repeat it and expand on it or improve it in order to make it better so that they can succeed the next time.

               Henry Ford, great American inventor said, “It’s your thinking that decides whether you’re going to succeed or fail.“

               If you are sincere in your efforts and reasoning you will likely succeed or come to see what you need to correct in a much more focused manner than if you half-heartedly attempt anything.

               People can detect your sincerity.  Eventually it will out just like the truth because American Sincerity is the source of the truth that you know and discover and share with others.

               Sincerity, of course, especially American Sincerity, does not operate in a vacuum.  It is itself an expression of truth, trustworthiness, honesty and integrity.  If you are a sincere person and this has been proven over time and through circumstances the weight of your words and the sound of your voice will be heard and accorded attention.  Do not feel that in the United States your voice will not be heard.  If you speak up people will listen to you.  If you are sincere then your words will carry weight with them.  Your potential for good in public and private situations is very great.

               This brings with it responsibility but American Sincerity, when expressed, helps a person understand that responsibility.

               A philosopher by the name of Immanuel Kant wrote, “Sincerity is the indispensable ground of all conscientiousness, and by consequence of all heartfelt religion.”

               I won’t go as far to say that American Sincerity is the basis of some sort of American religion – it is just true that sincerity is the base of all heartfelt religion.  It is also the base of all heartfelt fact and reason too.  It is with sincere devotion and understanding of facts that we can work through the problems presented by a modern mechanical society with all of its contrivances, chemicals and difficulties.  We can understand and take a position in a nation where sometimes corporations or businesses are treated like individual humans.  There must be sincerity in order to pierce the bizarre media presentations we are daily exposed to in order to understand the truth of what is behind the exciting story we are being told.

               For example – is that society story really exciting or is it just interesting or is it just some human tragedy being played upon for profit?  Is there something else going on behind the assertions made to us about the necessity of some armed conflict with another nation, armed intervention or international trade agreement we heard about but never seem able to participate in ourselves?  It is with sincerity that we as American citizens can participate in the sometimes confusing flood of issues and conflicting viewpoints we are exposed to.

               Honestly speaking American Sincerity is that tool which you can use to sort the information you are receiving into workable and understandable pieces.  Participation then in the governing of our nation becomes more than that of a spectator, innocent bystander or witness.  You can express American Sincerity by getting involved or merely letting others know where you stand and what you think.                   

               American Sincerity has a special qualification to it and that is trust.  In order for American Sincerity to be used as the tool that it is in civil affairs others must trust you.  That is where the issue of proof noted by President John F. Kennedy and is the same thing alluded by Emily Dickinson as scrutiny.

               It is important to see the proof of the actions of your elected representatives and to scrutinize them or the evidence against them so that you can express your own opinions with sincerity.

               It is an ongoing process that builds on itself but is very simple at its core as it is built on honesty and integrity and expressed as American Sincerity.

               In the United States of late it seems a common conception that ‘everyone is out to get you’ – that is – everyone or seemingly everyone – is taking steps and actions that are self-centered and may not be in your best interests in the best of circumstances and may actually injure you in the worst.

               It is sad commentary that this state of affairs is oft-repeated but even worse that it sometimes seems to be true.

               This is why it is so important for each American to express their sincerity and get to the heart of the matter – no matter what is being discussed.  This is not a closed society.  This is not a secret society.  This is an open society by and for the people.  If you do not yourself participate then you truly will be alone and that is a shame and would make a sham of our government and nation.

               If you are sincere in your ideas and desires and they are of a positive nature and useful then you can expect that they will heard and perhaps acted upon.  Insincere people in the United States are often found out and they suffer the mighty consequences associated with trials, public humiliation or other such things.

               It is unfortunate that many people believe the majority of people in public life are bad people because of the few that take advantage and do not act sincerely.

               This is not a negative book.  It is a positive book.  It is about how to be an American.  Be.  See.  Do.

               Confucius, an ancient Chinese philosopher said, “To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.”

               These are not just empty words when combined with action.  The action can either be the spoken word, a letter, participation at a public meeting or just taking the time to check the facts for yourself so you know where you stand.

               These simple actions are an expression of American Sincerity.  It is okay to take someone’s word but if you do not trust them then it is time to scrutinize the facts and gain the proof for yourself.  If you find the thing to be in the right – then they are vindicated.  If you find a thing that is wrong and then talk about it then you are expressing your own American Sincerity by not just going along with the pack but by participating with your heart, mind and soul.

               The American Journey and American Adventure is not a spectator sport.  If you are here and you are alive then you are an American – it follows then that you have responsibilities associated with that.  Whether or not you act on those responsibilities or leave the work to others is your choice.

               What choice will you make?

               Tacitus, a historian from the times of the Roman Empire, had this to say, “Fear is not in the habit of speaking truth; when perfect sincerity is expected, perfect freedom must be allowed; nor has anyone who is apt to be angry when he hears the truth any cause to wonder that he does not hear it. “

               You as an American have perfect freedom.  You have perfect freedom of movement, of thought, of speech, of religion (or not), of action and responsibility.  The nation, each one of us, expects you to be sincere in your criticism or praise of what is going on around you.  We have no one person to answer to and there is no emperor or tyrant who will correct or make worse some situation that you are aware of.

               The person most responsible for the things in your environment (and by that I mean the place where you live) and life is you.  You have nothing to fear.  In point of fact, there are people in our society that are here to ensure that your ability to express yourself is protected.

               The First Amendment in the Constitution of the United States reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

               It also means that no private person can set up a situation that interferes with religion, freedom of speech, the press or the right of Americans to assemble or work together to correct a wrong.

               These are not empty words.  They are a call to action and a prohibition against those persons that would put you in a state of slavery and servitude. 

In fact as to slavery, the thirteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States reads,

“Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

               Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”

               It is illegal in the United States for you to sign yourself into slavery or even agree to enter into such a contract by word of mouth.

               It follows that no one can put you in that state.

               It is by the expression of American Sincerity in your life that you ensure that this state of affairs remains the same and that your family and friends, as well as yourself, remain free as you are intended to be by your own voluntary act of participating in the national, state and local governments.

               Benjamin Franklin, great American statesman, considered Sincerity to be a virtue.  He defined it in this way :

               SINCERITY.

       Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

By not using hurtful deceit Benjamin Franklin is reminding us that no good fortune or fortune worthy of goodness, will come from using hateful, untruthful words against someone.  He also encourages us to think innocently, and so, be in that free state of mind as that of a child or that of a person who has just encountered the situation they are in, for truly, one does not know everything and this is why it is important to scrutinize and to seek proof of sincerity through truth.  As for thinking justly – we are constantly reminded that it is unfair to be prejudiced or to act on incomplete or unfair ideas.  To think justly is to consider both sides of the question and choose that one closer to right and that will provide for the greatest good.  As you can see – great questions and consequences in America begin with you and what you say, what you are and what you decide to do.  Finally – to speak accordingly – when responding and adding to the adventure – be just, open-minded and fair.  No one can ask more and no one does.

You are an American and you are free.  If you choose not to be sincere then you are undermining everything good that you could use to your own advantage.

               The expression of American Sincerity requires honesty and that is what we shall discuss next.