August 9, 2007
by Clay Barham

Tradition is something long established by the way a people have lived.  There are only two established traditions in the world.  The oldest tradition is the majority of people living under the rule of a few on the top.  Starting from the family, to the tribe and nation, this is the longest established tradition in the world. 

We call this the Old World tradition, of kings, dictators and subjects.  It is the tradition of least growth and change, since change disturbs life and order, something not easily tolerated by rulers. Abundance and prosperity center more at the ruler's level and less at the subject's level.  National and tribal wars and rebellions are common, one group seeking power and profit from another.  This well established tradition provides the greatest happiness to the least number, and the most misery to the most people.  Is it worth retaining?

A newer tradition started in North America almost 400 years ago. It began with a small band of people escaping the Old World tradition. Living on a frontier facing challenges to survival, their tradition grew from individual freedom and responsibility to family and community. It evolved as a way of life from a people on their own, whose behavior followed a moral code, while striving to survive and improve their lives. Families grew into frontier communities, which became part of a state, whose states united as one nation, and people ruled themselves.  Their tradition was completely opposite the Old World tradition and is a New World tradition.  This tradition gave the greatest happiness to the greatest number, and the least misery to the least number.  Is that a better tradition?

Neither the Old World nor the New reflected any ideology, just established tradition.  Plans and formulas for people to live in ways differing from either tradition, is an Ideology.  An ideology, to affect and alter an established tradition, is forced upon those who resist change, as many will.  Ideologies, concocted by people wanting change, are often square pegs forced into round holes.  Utopian ideologies abound.  You find them in every coffee house, university and rap-music studio.

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Every youthful zealot has a formula for change, an ideology. They all fit, however, closely to the older tradition of the few at the top ruling the many at the bottom.  They come close because the ideology always includes some smart, feeling, longhaired, bearded youth who believe him and his associates need to straighten everyone out with them in charge. They are altruistic and aim to cure the distortions in life rising out of ethnic and economic differences.  They are the ones who frown from a constant pain of lack, loss and pride without applause. They are the products of misery.  Those who smile and laugh out of the delights of love, acceptance and accomplishment, live in the tradition that evolved in America.  Theirs is the product of happiness.

What does this mean today?  How does it apply to what we are hearing on the campaign trail from both Democrats and Republicans heading toward the 2008 election?  What is the prevailing sentiment in the nation today?  Let us look at the last question first.  Three things stand out.  First, most Americans today have little understanding of their history and the position America holds with respect to its tradition.  Second, many Americans today believe government is the arbiter of social standings, the source and hope of all things good.  Third, many immigrants have flooded into America from nations experienced in the Old World traditions.  These three elements challenge the American tradition.

The Democrats are now openly supportive of the Old World tradition, departing from its stand for American traditions a century ago.  The Republicans, from who most would expect aggressive support for the New World American tradition, is unenthusiastic in its support.  They, like the Democrats, are tempted by votes from Old World views brought here in the minds of immigrants whom they hope to attract.  Few immigrants coming to America today have any enthusiasm to adopt the New World tradition, as was the case with 19th and 20th century immigrants who assimilated.

America stands at a crossroads, where the Old and the New World traditions meet.  The new ideologies vying for position and supporters is, as always, a distraction,  Both world traditions are too strong to yield to upstart ideologies without proven track records.  Americans will lose what is great about America if its tradition is the victim of the older one, and people once again separate into those few who rule and the many who are ruled.

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Clay Barham [send him email] has been a candidate for the California legislature and a stand-in talk show host for ABC.  He was educated in physical and behavioral sciences, with a Ph.D. in sociology.  He is the author of five books, with his latest being Foundations of Modern American Conservatism and Liberalism: The Roots of Freedom and Tyranny.  Visit his website at http://www.claysamerica.com.