The founding fathers saw America as nation with a new
outlook on government and a new attitude towards religion and the role it would
play. George Washington invited a rabbi to his inauguration and as president
wrote this to a concerned Jewish congregation in Newport: "The
citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for
having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy — a policy
worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of
citizenship."
The founding fathers saw an America lead not by
royalty or an elite class or any one religion, but by an involved and educated
citizenry. They placed a special emphasis on small enterprises, farmers
and shopkeepers. They equated liberty with library. The citizens must safeguard
their liberties by being well read and informed. The new model would be a
farmer who was comfortable behind a plow and the pages of a book. And as a
century later, with the Statue of Liberty in New York's harbor, America invited
people to come and take shelter here and follow their dreams.
This America could be equated with Yudhisthira's
kingdom at Indraprastra, described in the epic Mahabharata 5000 years ago.
After Yudhisthira's capital city was established, thousands of people flocked
the roads heading toward the new city with great hope in their hearts. Numerous
languages could be heard in their midst. And just like America, Indraprastra
was established as a land of hope and opportunity. The common adage in Vedic
times was that before starting a family, one should first find a suitable
livelihood and a righteous king to live under. The Vedic paradigm establishes that the duty of leadership is to protect
the citizens and provide order and opportunity for all.
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