The Founding Fathers, Voter ID & Baseball

Anyone who watched the World Baseball Classic finale Tuesday night in Miami — a thrilling match between the underdog Venezuelans and the mighty USA — understands the import of national pride.

Before the game, the teams stood on the field as the Venezuelan and the American national anthems were played. Miami is home to the largest diaspora community of Venezuelans in the world. Cheers were lusty. Every player on the Venezuelan team had his hat on his heart, and sang every word, boisterously. This is a country riven by decades of social unrest, political corruption and more recently, liberation at the hands of US forces sent by President Donald Trump. And yet, through all the turmoil, they clung to love of nation. “It means everything, this is for our country,” starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez said after the game, tears flowing.

On the American team, only two even doffed their caps. For the rest, all looked stoic. No one sang. I wondered if they even knew the words.

It is striking that this display of love of country took place at the same time that the US Senate was debating the SAVE America Act. This is a bill that would require proof of citizenship on registering to vote, and Voter ID on going to the polls. Debate began Tuesday. “Our republic was founded on a daring claim that a free people could govern itself. Not that a free people could drift forever,” said Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) In a passionate defense linking the bill to core American principles of self-government, citizenship and virtue, Schmitt said, “Liberty is fragile, and requires structure.”

The Founding Fathers would agree, although I wish they had cemented their beliefs into law. In his Farewell Address as he left the presidency in 1796, George Washington urged adherence to laws, but also country.

“Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of ‘American,’ which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism.”

Benjamin Franklin — a delegate to the Second Continental Congress that in 1776 approved the Declaration of Independence and to the Constitutional Convention that in 1787 that wrote the Constitution — insisted that immigrants must assimilate, learn the language, and adopt American ways to become good citizens. He viewed citizenship as requiring cultural and linguistic unity for a cohesive society.

Thomas Jefferson viewed citizenship as tied to military readiness and educated literacy, both safeguards for good governance. “Every citizen should be a soldier,” he wrote. “This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state.” He also advocated language proficiency for citizenship, saying it would breed loyalty to republican principles and to the Constitution.

As I write in my new book, Trump’s Superpower: A Historical Novel about the Founding Fathers & One Founding Mother, these men and women risked everything — reputation and life — to pursue liberty. Their idea of citizenship came down to virtue. A citizen had to stand for his country, to bleed for his country, and certainly to sing its anthem.

Few expect the SAVE Act, common sense notwithstanding, to reach President Trump’s desk. Except perhaps Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who said, “We’re going to stay on this bill until it damn well passes,” even if it means “many, many weeks” of debate. And if the MAGA base roars loudly enough, perhaps it will.

But the stark contrasts — on a baseball field between the pride of the Venezuelans and the indifference of the Americans, and on the Senate floor between the passionate few and the corrupt many — weigh heavy on the heart. Perhaps it is an exaggeration to say that the fate of the nation hangs in the balance, but I believe it to be true.

If we do not safeguard our elections from the votes of illegal immigrants, we lose our sovereignty. If we do not insist on English literacy to win American citizenship, we have no nation. If we do not again instill pride of nation, if we do not rise to joyfully sing our national anthem and thank God for the blessings of this land, we will lose the power of our identity to a band of globalists whose only allegiance is godless greed.

Recently I attended a seminar put on by Hillsdale College, a Christian university in Michigan that prizes a classical education and a belief in God. Before each meal, a student from Hillsdale led us in prayer, and then we stood, as one, for a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. I’m not sure I have recited it aloud since childhood, but there was something empowering in the moment, in the power of words uttered in unison by 800 people, in the warmth of being surrounded by people of like values.

Maybe we can bring the pledge back to the schools, along with the Bible. Let’s again teach our children the jewels of western history and literature. And finally, let’s make English the official language of the United States. After all, the rest of the world has already adopted it. Sort of like baseball.

After watching the Venezuelan baseball team defeat a soaring Italy in the semi-finals, Trump posted on Truth Social, “Wow, statehood #51 anyone?” He understands we need their spirit, their patriotism, their virtue.

I’ll give Thomas Jefferson the last word.