For more than two hundred years, the United States has been engaged in a unique
experiment in federal constitutional democracy. For more than one hundred years, we
have been a major power on the world stage. Today, we stand as the sole national
superpower, but in an increasingly interdependent global age. Throughout our history,
people from around the world have come to the United States, and have joined in our
American democracy.
This topic explores American values in a global context, addressing both our projection
of American values abroad and others' perceptions of us.
Starter 1: The New Colossus By Emma Lazarus, inscribed on the Statue of Liberty
Starter 2: Text of U.S. Oath of Allegiance; current and proposed text of "Oath or
Affirmation of Citizenship" of Canada
Starter 3: 1957 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette political cartoon entitled "Careful, the Walls
Have Ears" by John Kennedy; excerpt from speech by ABA President Robert Hirshon to
the National League of Cities, December 7, 2001
Starter 4: Excerpt from President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Four Freedoms speech;
Norman Rockwell "Four Freedoms" U.S. war bond poster
Starter 5: Excerpt on globalization from British government commissioned report in
wake of 2001 UK race riots
Note: The views expressed here have not been approved by the House of Delegates or the Board of
Governors of the American Bar Association, and accordingly, should not be construed as representing the
policy of the American Bar Association, nor do they represent the official position or policies of the ABA
Standing Committee on Public Education.
Conversations on Law and Liberty in Times of Crisis
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Starter 1: Global Perspectives on
American Values
Issue
What ideas and values has the Statue of Liberty symbolized, both at home and abroad?
Starter
Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World
Focus Questions
•
What ideas or values come to your mind when you visualize the Statue of
Liberty?
•
In "The New Colossus," Emma Lazarus names "the mighty woman with a torch":
"Mother of Exiles." What view of immigrants to America does this suggest to
you? When you think of immigrants coming to America today, what comes to
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your mind?
•
Today, what message do you think the Statue of Liberty presents to immigrants to
America? To people from around the world as an image of America?
•
Today, in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, how might you rewrite an
inscription for the Statue of Liberty? What would it say? For whom would it be
written?
Suggested Resources
Emma Lazarus and The New Colossus
Statue of Liberty - Great Buildings
Facts, figures and images of the Statue of "Liberty Enlightening the World," including
numerous hypertext links to related articles. Featured on Great Buildings Online.
Statue of Liberty by Ken Burns
Part of acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns' "America" series, this 1-hour documentary aired
originally on PBS.
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Starter 2 for Global Perspectives
on American Values
Issue
What civic values should new citizens affirm?
Starter
Part I:
The Oath of Allegiance to the United States
of America
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely
and entirely renounce and abjure all
allegiance and fidelity to any foreign
prince, potentate, state or sovereignty of
whom or which I have heretofore been a
subject or citizen; that I will support and
defend the Constitution and laws of the
United States against all enemies, foreign
and domestic; that I will bear true faith and
allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms
on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform
noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the
law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when
required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation
or purpose of evasion; so help me God."
Part II:
Current "Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship" of Canada
"I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will
faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen."
Part III:
Proposed Oath of Citizenship of Canada (Citizenship of Canada Act)
"From this day forward, I pledge my loyalty and allegiance to Canada and Her Majesty
Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada. I promise to respect our country's rights and
freedoms, to defend our democratic values, to faithfully observe our laws and fulfill my
duties and obligations as a Canadian citizen."
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Focus Questions
•
How do you think the current Oaths of Canada and of the United States are
similar? Different? Why?
•
How do you think the current and proposed Oaths of Canada are similar?
Different? Why?
•
What civic values are expressed by each of these oaths? How are they similar?
Different?
Suggested Resources
History and Language of the U.S. Oath of Allegiance
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) web page on the history of the oath of
allegiance to the United States, focusing on the standardization of the words of the oath
under federal law.
Proposed Citizenship of Canada Act
Proposed amendments to oath of citizenship sworn by new Canadians.
Naturalization Requirements for U.S. Citizenship
Details general requirements to become a citizen of the United States, including
residency, demonstration of moral character, attachment to the Constitution, knowledge
of the English language, knowledge of U.S. history and government, and taking the Oath
of Allegiance. INS web page.
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Starter 3 for Global Perspectives
on American Values
Issue
How do our domestic policies affect our standing in the world?
Starter
Part I:
"Careful, the Walls Have Ears," political cartoon by John Kennedy published in the
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (September 11, 1957).
Reproduced with permission of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Part II:
"Already, Spain has refused to extradite suspected Al Qaeda terrorists unless we
guarantee that they will not be tried in military tribunals. Great Britain, our staunchest
ally, is expressing concern, as are others in Western Europe. These criticisms are
particularly disconcerting, since it is our country's State Department that every year
grades other nations on their human rights practices, including whether they offer fair and
public trials. Remember, too, that we are the nation that protests—rightly so—when US
citizens such as Lori Berenson are brought before military tribunals rather than civilian
courts. We should have enough confidence in our own system of justice - be it civilian or
military—to be willing to allow the world to watch it work."
Excerpt from speech by ABA President Robert Hirshon to the National League of Cities
in Atlanta on December 7, 2001.
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Focus Questions
•
To what extent should world opinion influence our decisions on domestic issues
or questions of national security?
•
The political cartoon was published at the height of the United States' school
desegregation debate, part of the Civil Rights Movement that continued through
the 1960s. In hindsight, what impression of the United States do you think the
struggles of the Civil Rights Movement gave to the rest of the world?
•
How do you think the use of military tribunals for the trial of suspected terrorists
would affect the United States' credibility in questioning human rights practices
around the world?
Suggested Resources
'Why do they hate us?' by Peter Ford, staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
Peter Hessler, "Straight to Video," from The New Yorker (Oct. 15, 2001).
An article on how the September 11 attacks "played" in a Chinese provincial city.
"Estranged Partners," by Jessica T. Mathews, President, Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace
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Starter 4 for Global Perspectives
on American Values
Issue
What are the essential freedoms for people around the world?
Starter
Part I:
"We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.
The first is freedom of speech and expression—everywhere in the world.
The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way—everywhere
in the world.
The third is freedom from want . . . everywhere in the world.
The fourth is freedom from fear . . . anywhere in the world.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, "Four Freedoms" speech, delivered to Congress on
January 6, 1941
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Part II:
Norman Rockwell "Four Freedoms" U.S. war bond posters.
© 1943 SEPS: Licensed by Curtis Publishing,
Indianapolis, IN
© 1943 SEPS: Licensed by Curtis Publishing,
Indianapolis, IN
© 1943 SEPS: Licensed by Curtis Publishing,
Indianapolis, IN
© 1943 SEPS: Licensed by Curtis Publishing,
Indianapolis, IN
Focus Questions
•
Do you agree with President Roosevelt's definition of the four essential human
freedoms? Are there any you disagree with? Do you think any essential human
freedoms have been omitted from this list?
•
Do you think the United States has fulfilled these four freedoms for our residents?
Is it possible for any country to fully enjoy these freedoms unless they are enjoyed
around the world?
•
What should America's role be in promoting these freedoms around the world?
Suggested Resources
Full Text of Four Freedoms Speech
"Powers of Persuasion" Four Freedoms page
Biography of Franklin D. Roosevelt (From FDR Library & Archives)
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Starter 5 for Global Perspectives
on American Values
Issue
How might globalization affect our
understanding of national identity and
values?
Starter
Britain, like almost all countries, has been
affected by globalisation and is now host to
communities for whom concerns about
their country of origin can be refreshed
© Copyright 2002 Corbis
daily. In these circumstances, strategies for
Postcard of WWI British Empire
making them feel at home, rather than as
reluctant exiles, need to be established. As
a nation, we have to assert a clearer set of expectations to govern attitudes to relationships
between different sections of the community. This needs a determined effort to gain
consensus on the fundamental issue of 'cultural pluralism.' In other words, an acceptance,
and even a celebration, of our diversity and that within the concept of citizenship,
different cultures can thrive, adding to the richness and experience of our nationality.
That also means an acceptance that we are never going to turn the clock back to what was
perceived to be a dominant or monoculturalist view of nationality. This will become less
and less credible in any case as globalisation develops. But, we must recognize that
globalisation threatens the identity of all races, culture and nations, and of both majority
and minority populations within nations."
Excerpt from Community Cohesion: A Report of the Independent Review Team Chaired
by Ted Cantle, December 11, 2001 (government report commission by British Home
Secretary David Blunkett in the wake of race riots in Northern England in summer 2001)
Focus Questions
•
What "civic values" are expressed by this excerpt from the British report? How do
you think they compare to what you believe the United States' civic values are?
•
What do you think is meant by the statement that "globalisation threatens the
identity of all races, culture and nations, and of both majority and minority
populations within nations"? Do you agree with it?
•
What is globalization? How do you think globalization affects civic values?
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Suggested Resources
The Culture of Liberty by Mario Vargas Llosa
Argues that the process of globalization will result in a "renaissance of local and regional
cultures," rather than their dissipation.
Globalization and Culture Resource Site
Global Policy Forum resource site that features more than 25 essays and articles on issues
related to culture and globalization.
BBC News Page on 2001 Race Riots in Northern England
Comprehensive resource site on the 2001 race riots in northern England and their
aftermath. Summarizes key findings and recommendations of the Cantle Report and
features links to related reports, commentary and analysis.
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