How much is a 'Score'?

“How much is a Score?” Asked my teacher in a Civics class when I was 11 years old. No one from my class knew. “One Score is 20” she said, “so how much is four score and seven years?”. This is how Mrs. Ghosh, our teacher, introduced us to Lincoln’s Gettysburg address.

The phrases “Four scores and seven years ago…”, “...all men are created equal”, “...Government of the people, by the people, for the people…” were explained and discussed. For a small town boy in India - the phrases sounded in turn abstract and then compelling.

That class for me, captured the (very naive) idea of America. Crystalissed the magical notion of a country where democracy is many scores of years old, equality is a constant presence, and eloquent speech was a natural trait for a leader.

Of course, with time came the appreciation of the brokenness of American democracy (or for that matter any democracy). And yet, the essence of America endured in my mind. This wasn’t just the optical - such as the presidential election spectacle like no other (really a global event), and the pomp and the impact of the Supreme Court but also real achievements - the marvel of moon landing, real technology innovation (Google, FB, Square, Stripe…) and a sense that, even if haltingly, life was getting better (for most/all?).

The recent events of the attack on the Capitol building have left me sad. It was a gut punch to my mental image of the USA, however abstract. Growing up, I never had to contend with the loss of Santa Claus or an imaginary friend. This, in a sense, was my first loss of a mental image, an idea. Maybe this was just a long time coming, and perhaps this is a good time to leave my naivety behind. However, in a very self centered way, I want the USA to find that emotional high note again.

I wish all my American friends tonnes of luck. For what lies ahead - for scores and scores of years.