Society as Moral Community

The collective suffering, sadness, and anger growing out of social disruptions provide the raw materials for the re-creation of society as moral community. The notion of society as moral community is selectively embellished through the creation of a body of sacred symbols. As one of the primary living symbols of the nation, the presidency and its occupant are important ingredients of society as moral community. The president speaks on behalf of the nation, represents the nation on ceremonial occasions, and occupies a primary position of trusteeship. While Americans have a legal right to say negative things about their president, he is the symbolic leader of the nation. The national identity of Americans was permanently altered by the trauma of the war experiences. The numbing effects of the American bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki more than offset any sense of national shame or humiliation resulting from Japan's decisive defeat.