This Too Shall Pass

In 1859, before he became president, before the Union tore itself to pieces, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech at a Wisconsin State Fair, sharing the story of an Eastern king who asked his wisest court philosophers to provide him with advice that would be true regardless of the situation.

After 244 years and 58 often difficult and uncertain elections, once again our country is bitterly divided; our forests are burning; a new virus is humbling us, damaging our economy, and making us question the strength of the foundation our country is built on.

As a new American, I have studied the history of my adopted country, from the birth of our Constitution and its supporting Federalist Papers, to Howard Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United States,” which outlines in excruciating detail our shameful history of slavery, racism, political corruption, land grabs and crass materialism. In short, I am fully aware our system of government is flawed, but I also know other systems of government are terrible.

Our Founding Fathers did not write our Constitution for virtuous leaders capable of overcoming temptations; instead, they knew humans are flawed by nature, and that our democracy would be more compelling if the faults of our American system of government are out in plain view for all to see.

During these trying times, it is important to remember Lincoln’s statement that America is an experiment in self-government, and the U.S. is a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” It also helps to remember the advice of the Eastern king’s philosophers: this, too, shall pass.

— Sina.