4 - John O\' Sullivan - The Great Nation of Futurity PDF

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John O‘ Sullivan – The Great Nation of Futurity (1839) Responsive Card 4

Side A America cannot be compared and associated with other nations. Even though American people originally come from different countries, there is no association with the past of those countries of origin, be it positive or negative aspects. On the one hand the foundation of America introduced not only a new political system, but also developed a new way of life regarding equality, social democracy and opportunities. Therefore America does not deal with the past, but is exclusively future-oriented. This future orientation with the associated happiness and greatness is to be equated with destiny. In doing so there is a clear distinction between America and antiquity, such as monarchies and aristocracies. Both of them reflect not only cruelty, but also injustice and are outdated. On the contrary America reflects liberty and self- determination and therefore deals with the future. To put it in a nutshell America is destined for being a better nation and has the mission to learn from the mistakes of others. In addition to that America resembles not only progress but future in general, because of the reason it is independent and detached from the past.

Side B “[…] to establish on earth the noblest temple ever dedicated to the worship of the Most High – the Sacred and the True. “ (p. 31). This metaphor directly refers America, its people and principles, which are the tenors of the metaphor to the noblest temple ever, which is the vehicle of the metaphor. Additionally the worship of the Most High – the Sacred and the True are vehicles, too. It is the function of the metaphor to provide and identify similarities between those two. In doing so it should become clear that America, its people and principles which laid the foundation of the nation can be seen as the noblest temple. Principles such as equality, independence and happiness are giving America the right for an establishment. It is not only an ordinary establishment, but the noblest temple that has ever been created. A temple usually refers to religion which is reinforced by the worship on the Most High – the Sacred and the true. On the one hand this refers to America as the God chosen country, with divine principles (p. 31) but on the other hand the principles itself, such as individual freedom, can be seen as adorable as well. All in all America does not only act as a connection between God but also resembles freedom in the most righteous way, which indicates the superlative “noblest.”...