Isn’t secessionism a betrayal of our war dead?

Today, I received an e-mail from a reader which asks this question: “Although I see the need for a 'new paradigm' when it comes to governing our nation, how can I overcome the feeling that I am somehow 'betraying' those closest to me who gave their very lives for this nation?”

This is not a concern to be taken lightly. We have family and friends very dear to us who have fought, and too often, died in defense of the United States of America. The very idea of secession can sound treasonous. Most of us have grown up believing that the United States was morally superior to other nations because we promoted personal political and economic freedom, equality of opportunity, and the rule of law; and I am sure most Americans who have served their country in the armed forces did so in defense of those ideas against nations who were not so committed.

Unique among the nations of the world, the United States was founded on ideas, not tribalism or loyalty to a strongman. This foundation was laid with our Declaration of Independence, which includes these words:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men … are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness – that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed – that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.” (Emphasis mine)

Twenty years later, George Washington, in his farewell address, warned us about entering into “entangling alliances” with foreign powers. Unfortunately, his advice was ignored almost immediately. Since then, the United States has engaged in nine major wars. One of them was the Civil War, which requires a whole discussion to itself. Of the others, only two can even be partly justified as self-defense: the Pacific theatre of World War II, in response to the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor and Santa Barbara, and its occupation of some Aleutian islands near Alaska; and the current war in Afghanistan, in response to 9-11. The American involvement in all of the others was the result of some action instigated by the United States, to either expand its territory, its economic influence, or its military power.

Sadly, then, we would have to acknowledge the fact that thousands of Americans died for an unworthy cause; but the truth is, they thought they were fighting to preserve the liberties that we won in the American Revolution. The bankers and politicians pursued one cause, but the soldiers and sailors fought for another, higher one.

Therefore, if we agree that America was founded on the ideals stated in the Declaration of Independence, and that the present government of the United States has become destructive to the rights of our people, it not only follows that secession into a Republic based on the same principles does not betray the sacrifices of our warriors – it may prove to be the only way that we can really honor them.