Oh Pennsylvania! – forget not the legacy of William Penn – Enenche Enenche

America has always been defined by its many crises, some of which are mild. Mild in the sense that however condescending, some crises moments lack the capacity to extinguish the ideals at the heart and soul of America. However, there have been defining moments in history, a make-or-break moment when America was at a cross-road, such that if she failed to get it right, she might have gone in the way of the wind.

A look into history strongly indicates the saving grace each time was the rise of a leader that defies the odds, setting America again on the righteous path by upholding without reservation the fundamental ideals of the Founding Fathers that “All Men are Free and Equal Under God”. And whenever America can locate such men and women ready not to back-off from upholding the fundamental principles, America surmounted her crisis no matter the odds.

For instance, Pennsylvania has been at the heart of controversies trailing the US Presidential election. The Keystone State has been projected as having a long history of electoral fraud and corruption. This flawed image is becoming overwhelming and could erode from the minds of many Americans and watchers around the world the symbolic pride of place that Pennsylvania holds in America’s rich political history.

The truth is America is much more than a country. America is an idea. An idea inspired by the founding fathers, which gave birth to a nation and a dream, not just for the immediate inhabitants of its territory but the ideals the founding fathers stood for has been the beacon of hope and a point of reference for the world for well over 300 years. Incidentally, William Penn and indeed Pennsylvania remain at the centre of it all.

When in 1681, King Charles II reportedly relinquish his North American landholding to William Penn, some argued it was in payment of a debt the King owed William Penn’s father, Admiral William Penn, a British politician and member of the House of Commons between 1660 and 1670. The Senior William, apart from being a Vice Admiral at different times during the Thirty Years War in Europe, also played a crucial role in the restoration of King Charles II as the King of Great Britain.

However, even though William Penn served briefly in the military, he chose not to build on his father’s military legacies and political privileges. Rather he primed himself to fight religious discrimination in England. He was particular about the Quakers founded by George Fox. He eventually became a full-fledged Quaker and used his privileged position to fight the suppression of the Quakers under the mantra of “All Men Are Equal Under God.”

His constant confrontations with the authorities led to his expulsion from the University of Oxford for “religious non-conformity.”

However, it was not only the authorities that appeared not to be in sync with Penn’s religious beliefs and practices, his father, Admiral William Penn was equally enraged by his son’s frequent confrontations with the “Crown” on issues of religious liberty. And his efforts to convince him to back-off were unfruitful.

As a result and for fear of his son putting his elite position in jeopardy, Admiral Penn reportedly disowned William Penn and evicted him from his house, denying him his inheritance at the time. However, the homeless William Penn remained resilient even though he was reportedly imprisoned on several occasions for preaching on the streets of London. But as providence would have it, he was said to have successfully negotiated a deal with King Charles II who surrendered to William Penn his large expanse of land of about 45,000 square miles in the present-day Pennsylvania and Delaware. Thus, making Penn the “world’s largest private landowner” at the time.

This singular action opened a new opportunity for mass immigration of the Quakers to the New Land, where they could have the freedom to worship their God without fear and discrimination. However, it was not only the Quakers that mass emigrates, but the Huguenots, Moravians, Amish, Lutherans, Catholics, Jews, Mennonites, and several religious and ethnic minorities all across Europe and other parts of the world also emigrated to the New Land in pursuit of religious liberty.

However, the remark of William Penn when King Charles II signed the land charter revealed that beyond religious liberty, he envisioned a nation where all men and women are free. For instance, on receiving the land charter, he said, “..it is a clear and just thing, and my God who has given it to me through many difficulties, will, I believe, bless and make it the seed of a nation”. This comment indicates that Penn who at the time was heavily influenced by John Locke, the legendary English Philosopher who also vehemently advocated that “all men are by nature free and equal…”, was determined to bring about a nation where equality and fairness reign supreme. In other words, the concept of Liberty in America’s political system and free enterprise economy is deeply rooted in William Penn’s quest for religious liberty.

Well, Penn went ahead to name the area “New Wales”, and later Sylvania (a Latin word for forest or wood). But King Charles II was said to have overruled him and called the region Penn-Sylvania in honour of his friend and political ally, Admiral William Penn. Several historical accounts highlight how William Penn became crucial in unifying the Thirteen other colonies, such that the declaration of independence was signed in Philadelphia on the 4th of July 1776. Also, the democratic principles that William Penn enshrined in the “Pennsylvania Frame of Government” inspired the framing of the United States Constitution in same Philadelphia in 1787. These fundamental principles include but not limited to:

i. All men are equal under God

ii. Power is derived from the people from open discourse; and

iii. The need to safeguard the rights of private property and free enterprise and impose taxes fairly.

The foregoing is a snippet of the crucial place of Pennsylvania in the political history of the United States. But Pennsylvania also typifies how the True Spirit of America that overcomes all odds when it matters most. There is no doubt that in President Trump, the people may have located the True Spirit of America which remains the conscience of the nation, and nothing galvanises America to victory than when the foundational principles are at stake.

It is obvious to Americans and even onlookers around the world that there are two camps in the 2020 Presidential Election. Those who think the fundamental ideals of the founding fathers should be done away with and the silent majority who remain tenacious and poised to defend the foundational principles of America no matter what it takes. And like Abraham Lincoln, President Trump is at the threshold of history to safeguard the Republic from those nursing weird concepts that are completely at odds to what America stands for, which is why l know that this too shall pass.

I hold the view that America can only be overwhelmed by the threats of extinction when there is total complacency in the land and torch of liberty is not raised high enough for all to see and derive strength from history. But as long as there is that flicker of light bright enough for true patriots to congregate around, it does not matter the odds, America always Triumphs. And in President Trump, America has located much more than a flicker. In President Trump, America has been endued with a Tsunami so boisterous that has it has never seized to overwhelm the odds these past four years. Which is why I know that when the whole hysteria is over and the dust settles those throwing tantrums will realise that America has shaded her skin yet again, and they are forever confined to the ash-heap of history, as new patriots emerge and take their place.

As for me, whenever l took a meal of Quaker Oats and sight the incredible image of William Penn l remember the fighting spirit of America. I have no doubt Pennsylvania still signifies that spirit and will be decisive in preserving the ideals the Founding Fathers stood and fought for, ensuring that justice and fairness reign supreme in the 2020 Presidential Election so that America will continue to bear the torch of liberty loud and clear for the whole world.

Long Live William Penn

Long Live Pennsylvania

Long Live United States of America