Bradley Project 2008-Bradley Project On America_s National ...

8 I The Bradley Project on america’s National identity I e pluribus unumintroductionAmerica is facing an identity crisis.The next generation of Americans will knowless than their parents about our history andfounding ideals. And many Americans aremore aware of what divides us than of whatunites us. We are in danger of becoming not“from many, one”—E Pluribus Unum—butits opposite, “from one, many.”In a series of working group meetingsheld in 2007, the Bradley Project onAmerica’s National Identity brought togetherleading historians, political scientists,journalists, public figures, and educators,to examine four aspects of American life crucialto American identity: historical memory,civic education, immigration, and nationalsecurity. 1To inform its work, the Bradley Projectasked HarrisInteractive to conducta study on Americans’ views on nationalidentity. The good news is that 84 percentof the respondents still believe in a uniqueAmerican identity. The bad news is that 63percent believe this identity is weakening,and 72 percent are concerned about ethnic,cultural and political divisions. Almost aquarter—24 percent—believe we are alreadyso divided that a common national identityis impossible. In their minds, it is already toolate. Even more troubling, young people—on whom our continued national identitydepends—are less likely than older Americansto believe in a unique national identityor in a unique American culture. 2All this represents a sea change. Unlessthese attitudes change, we could facea future in which most Americans will notchampion American identity, will not beproud of their country, and will allow fellowcitizens to have competing allegiances toother countries. A nation whose citizens nolonger feel national pride or a uniqueallegiance to their own country is a nationthat has lost its sense of national identityand perhaps its will to survive. This is anidentity crisis.