If we're honest with ourselves, as Americans we stand on a pretty broad set of shoulders: colonists, captives, aboriginals, confederates, unionists, suffragettes, populists, feminists, radicals, moderates, libertarians, liberals, conservatives, socialists, social democrats, communists, anarchists, independents, nationalists and so many other strands woven into rich national fabric.
Truthfully, I think the country is still moving forward on our forebearers prodigious productivity, both ethical and otherwise. Can we keep America moving forward is the perennial question?