Ken Burns Downplays Modern Divisions, Urges Return to Founders’ Principles
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Ken Burns told NBC’s Meet the Press that today’s political splits are minor compared to the nation’s past, and he called for Americans to unite around the Constitution and the original vision of the founders. Burns warned against authoritarianism and distractions that undermine traditional American values.
Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns appeared on NBC’s 'Meet the Press' on July 5 to discuss his new series on the American Revolution, emphasizing that too often, history is sanitized to avoid tarnishing the ideals of 1776 and the Constitution. Burns argued that recognizing the brutality of the nation’s founding only strengthens the case for the enduring greatness of America’s founding principles and the exceptionalism of its founders.
Burns drew parallels between the challenges faced by the founders—such as the era’s pandemic, debates over soldiers’ vaccinations, and the failed invasion of Canada—and the issues facing America today. He insisted that current divisions are “a mile wide but an inch thick” compared to the real crises of the Civil War and the Vietnam era, suggesting that today’s conflicts are exaggerated by those seeking to undermine unity. Burns warned that the founders would be disappointed by any drift toward authoritarianism, particularly as the legislative branch cedes power, which goes against the founders’ intent for a strong, balanced government.
“If the founders came here, they would not be surprised at all that somebody was seeking more authoritarian power,” Burns said, noting that vigilance is needed to protect the freedoms enshrined in the Constitution.
He cautioned that so-called “authoritarians” benefit from keeping citizens distracted by conspiracy and superstition, which weakens the nation’s democratic foundations. Burns praised the emergence of the American 'citizen' as a unique counter to rule by elites, referencing Thomas Paine’s vision of remaking the world through liberty and self-governance.
“We have a system here in which we have at least the recipe to pull out the fuel rods of anger and distrust and hatred,” he said, urging Americans to put aside petty divisions and recommit to the unity and values that have made the country strong as it approaches its 250th anniversary.
