American Graft to American Growth
The American experiment is about grafting different ideas onto new branches.
The tomato-potato plant is a work of genius, but also as natural as can be. Grafting plants that are related to each other is a common agriculture technique. You can get a smaller apple tree by grafting one variety, like Gala, onto a dwarf rootstock. Almost all grapes grown are grafted European varieties, like Chardonnay or Chambourcin, with American rootstock, meaning grape vines native to this continent. When I first learned this fact, all I could think was, “That’s just like our government”.
Our forefathers borrowed heavily when debating and writing the Constitution. It had Roman idealism and tried to continue with many features that were working, such as legislatures made up of the governed people. Just like plants need care: water, pruning, mulching, our government needs the occasional pruning.
The best grapes make the best wine, and those vines undergo maintenance and pruning. Too much vegetation and too little vegetation can be bad. Grapes require water at the beginning of the growing season, and then need to suffer in heat and thirst before harvest. It’s just like in our lives, where we grow the most after getting pruned by life, and going through dry periods.
The American experiment, our experiment that we take part in a US citizens, requires small sacrifices. It can be staying informed, voting, or even being on the ballot. But each pain, each challenge, makes us all better. We should celebrate our freedom, and like a gardener enjoying the fruits, think about what needs to be weeded from our current situation so that we’ll have something to share with our children.
Happy Independence Day!