Issue 022: Foundational Ethos

Join, or Die. Unity in the American context is first structural. We are United States.

As we continue the fundraising campaign to reach $2,000 in monthly commitments, this twenty-second journal series will cover quotations from historical figures that create the foundational ethos of the mission to inspire American unity.

Attacks on the Capitol, racial or caste-based violence, excessive pandemic lockdowns, not paying American workers for the wealth they create, and assassination attempts are all rooted in a story arc that’s neither American nor Christian. No twenty-year-old should ever be confused about how we can journey through the problems we face to become a stronger country.

“Join, or Die,” was America’s first political cartoon, published by Benjamin Franklin, because the threats we face under disunion are greater than if we join together.

“Join, or Die” gives us a story arc where the threat is from the outside—without pretending that justice and freedom will come by good feelings.

The act of joining is both difficult and a solution for the threats we face.

As the Paris 2024 Olympic Games begin this week, Issue 022 is also a reminder that in the same way that athletes excel when they perfect their craft to get the best performance out of themselves, we the people of the United States can make the next generation stronger when we get the best effort out of ourselves too.

At Liberatus, based on the conversation and writing we have done with stakeholders across the political spectrum, we believe the American idea, the story arc of our time, and the way to get the best effort out of ourselves is this: We make our country more just and free when we collaborate, and build trust, and build endurance.

It’s not a quick solution; it’s a pattern. It’s an infinite pursuit.

The following journal entries in this series will offer perspective from iconic American historical figures to highlight the foundational ethos of what a culture of unity could mean in our time and for the next generation.

Governing the US should be an endurance adventure, not a culture war. Nothing changes if nothing changes.

Weekly Action Point:

Take a look at the vision overview as we look to produce a biannual publication. Take time to pray in nature about your vocation or calling. Then, you can set up a monthly recurring donation as a Liberatus Advocate at the tab below. You can also write Volume Two with us by responding to a one-question interview. We will compile responses to the question about the future you imagine into a new vision asset to guide the stories that we tell, the research that we include, and the partner organizations that we fund. Finally, you can reply to a stakeholder survey here.

Mission: Inspire American Unity

Liberatus offers inspiration for American unity in beautiful, well-researched illustrated journals, written by professionals across the political spectrum, to help us all choose unity, build endurance, and become the leaders who make our country more just and free for the next generation.

Journal Entry #149

ISSUE 022: FOUNDATIONAL ETHOS