For a lot of folks today, the 4th of July is really a day of celebration. It’s a day of fireworks and BBQ and family and friends and (for most of us) a respite from our daily grind.
I myself will be relaxing as well, but I want to talk a little about what exactly makes this particular day special for me. For lack of a better term, I see today as a celebration of the principle of sovereignty. It’s America’s birthday, of course, but at the same time? It’s also a celebration of the fact that us former colonials decided, on this day, to rule and govern ourselves.
Even though we’d be breaking away from one of the greatest powers of its time, my ancestors took a look at the odds and decided that it was worth it to try to make sure that we’re able to make our own laws and be responsible for our own actions.
Why is sovereignty important? Well, to explain the obvious, I think it is obvious that we need government. Society needs structure for it to function, and government is the best way to provide that structure in our lives. Given that by nature a government need to well, govern, I think to be governed by one’s own people is the best way to go about things. No matter how benevolent and well meaning an outsider’s intervention may be, I think it is best that individual peoples govern themselves. It’s simple logic. Nothing fancy, and nothing extra special.
It is from this position of sovereignty that I now write Pacific’s America. Readers of Action Reports, our forums, or those that follow our work closely will have noticed many things about how Pacific’s America is a lot less interventionist. This is not an accident. While I’m not going to say too much about who’s president in our timeline (hint: Ike’s definitely still around), what is important is that America is far less willing to intercede and intervene in the world’s affairs. Perhaps the Abyssals and what they do really struck a cord with those that sit in positions of power in America. Perhaps it is simply due to random chance that America decides to be more “isolationist.” Perhaps it is because a far less aggressive Soviet Union is also playing a role in maintaining world stability. Or perhaps it is because Britain did not fade as it did in real life.
Whatever it may be, Pacific’s world is a lot less tense than the equivalent times of our world today. As you will learn, there are instances in this world where – in hindsight – America should have done something. What happened in East Asia in the 80s is an excellent example of that. But above all else is perhaps America’s image around the world in Pacific. Consider how other countries would view America if it wasn’t busy poking into other countries’ affairs. Consider how much more attractive democratic values would be if it’s not forced onto peoples that hold a different view. Consider all this, and consider the value of national sovereignty, and you now understand a little more about how America is turning out.
Make no mistake. The spirit of the 4th of July is alive and well. America is different in Pacific, yes, but that difference isn’t so different as to make her alien. She may not be as active as around the world as she might be today, but she still stands for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. A less interventionist America could only result in greater conviction in the righteousness of her cause, saved for those instances where intervention is absolutely necessary.
The history of free men is never really written by chance. No. It is, and always has been, written by choice. It just so happens that the same choice that resulted in July 4th, 1776 is now writing her next chapter.