The first concept is that America is a proposition nation–dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal–and that she consists of ideas–freedom, equality, democracy, self-government–which are the entitlement of all men everywhere. This is the view of President Bush and Condoleezza Rice. Michael Gerson’s July 4th column reflects this view. The second concept is that America is indeed based on universal ideals, but that she is also a concrete nation, with a specific history that made these ideals manifest, a culture that is especially suited to the realization of these ideals, and a people that have been cultivated to their proper exercise. This view is reflected in William Bennett’s article linked this week at NRO. Holders of the first view find that our universality is the basis of what they love about America. Ironically, this often has them focused on our flaws, since the universal rights have not been perfectly realized. Those who profess the second view will often gratefully focus on America as a concrete nation and the marvelous extent to which we have fulfilled these lofty ideals. They also express concern that the ideals can be lost if we do not trouble to preserve them and pass them on in a way that inspires our young people They hold with Ronald Reagan that “freedom is fragile and rare,” and believe with Jefferson that “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”