In 2021, I wrote to former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, then 79 years old, about an essay he wrote in 2002. His reply was gracious, meaningful, and generous. After his death earlier this year, those words and many other kind things were said about Lieberman by friends. Hugh Downs edited “My America: What My Country Means to Me by 150 Americans from All Walks of Life,” and Lieberman joined 149 other contributors to write short essays for the book. “My America” was published in 2002.In his introduction, Downs explained the purpose of the book. During “America’s newfound sense of unity, people might wish both to express and to hear from others how they feel about the nation in light of the jarring events of September 11, 2001.”Evan Agostini/APHugh Downs, an anchorman for the ABC news program “20/20” and, before that, NBC’s “The Today Show,” died on July 1, 2020, in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was 99.Among the book’s contributors were Maya Angelou, Yogi Berra, former President George [H.W.] Bush, Walter Cronkite, Paul Harvey, Steve Forbes, Coretta Scott King, [New York U.S. Senator] Charles E. Schumer, and future President Donald Trump. Downs’ former ABC-TV colleagues Barbara Walters and John Stossel also contributed.“The articulated thoughts of this group of my fellow countrymen have brought a wider perspective to my own ideas and my own patriotism,” Downs wrote. I saw sights of unity and patriotism were apparent in Washington, D.C., after the attacks of September 11. In the divisive political climate of recent years, I long for the unity and patriotism I saw in the aftermath of the terror attack in Washington, D.C.In his essay, Lieberman wrote: “Our founders didn’t just create a country for themselves to govern; they built the framework of a nation resilient enough to withstand changing times, flexible enough to absorb internal diversity, and strong enough to fight external threats.”The legacy of CT’s Joe Lieberman always included his time in New HavenHe observed that America had “grown more and more successful as our citizenry has grown more diverse in race, religion, ethnicity, and background.” This was possible because: “[T]the United States is ultimately guided by its conscience,” he wrote.America’s military is used with “prudence for principles,” he said. America’s economic power is focused “on raising up all of our people.”Solid is a word I often heard used to describe Joe Lieberman. I mention this because at this point in his essay about America, the Solid Joe Lieberman took over.“This is a great nation, imperfect-as any human condition must be-but striving always to safeguard the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that our Declaration of Independence makes clear are given by God to every individual.” Solid was used to describe Joe Lieberman because he could impart such wisdom as this during a difficult time in our history. He is telling us that challenging times will be overcome by America’s glorious future. It has always been the case.In the 20 years since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, America saw, and continues to see, extreme political division due to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economic meltdown of 2008, the Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden presidencies, national riots over the tragic death of George Floyd, the January 6 protests on Capitol Hill, and a loss of public faith in U.S. institutions, among other divisive events and personalities. Our brief period of unity and patriotism captured by Hugh Downs in the 150 essays in his book now seem distant and foreign concepts.When I wrote to Lieberman in August of 2021, I wanted to know if, after twenty years, he would change anything in his essay. I did not mention any of the events in the previous paragraph. I think he was surprised and delighted with my letter.“Thanks for your thoughtful letter and your appreciation of my short essay in Hugh Downs’ book “My America,” he replied in his handwritten reply. Then the Solid Joe Lieberman took over.“I do not regret anything I wrote there [in his essay.],” the Solid Joe Lieberman wrote. “My piece was descriptive and aspirational, and acknowledged that although ‘this is a great nation’ it is also certainly ‘imperfect as any human condition must be’.” He obviously had a copy of the book since he quoted from his essay. The Solid Joe Lieberman was not finished.“In recent years, we have had more times of imperfection, and division. But there is still a remarkable consensus among the American people about our national values and purpose—our aspirations,” he wrote.“Thanks for asking and thanks for your public service. With every good wish, Joe Lieberman.”Lieberman’s essay in “My America” and his letter reminded me of his excellent book “In Praise of Public Life,” written with Michael Dorso in 2000. In the book, Lieberman wrote about his life in public service. He wrote about the privileges of public life in the face of Americans’ cynicism about it.In his final chapter, “The Future,” he wrote about the difficult issues of his time in the U.S. Senate. He likened divisive politics and dishonest politicians to “the virus of lost standards being passed back and forth among the entertainment culture, the news media and government, making each more ill.” Americans might recognize “the virus of lost standards” in the sad state of our national politics.“The virus of lost standards” can also be seen at Ivy League schools that encourage students to support international terrorist organizations and betray America’s commitment to Israel. This “virus” has, according to some government sources, led to the terror threat in our nation greater than at any time since 2001. What has happened to the unified and patriotic America that Hugh Downs, Joe Lieberman, and others wrote about in 2002?Lieberman closed “In Praise of Public Life” by encouraging readers “not to withdraw” from “repairing and improving our beloved country and world.”Many of the contributors to “My America” are now deceased, including Lieberman and Downs. They left us with the inspiration “not to withdraw” from taking on the challenges of our time.James Patterson is a former U.S. diplomat and a life member of the American Foreign Service Association.
sekar nallalu Commentary,Cryptocurrency,Op-Ed,Opinion Opinion: Inspiration ‘not to withdraw from taking on challenges of our time