Don’t feel like doing anything today? Aren’t you glad you live in America where that luxury is allowed? The fact that you don’t want to do anything probably means you are “feeling lazy,” or you overdid yesterday with too much soccer, baseball, or dancing. Or maybe you just ate too much. And the consequences of not doing aren’t life threatening.
But in most countries it would mean you would go hungry or be cold. If you were too tired to walk the mile to the well, you and your family would have no water. If you blew off tending to the family animals, they might get sick and die and you would be that much closer to starvation. Every day is a struggle to survive in many countries of this world and it is a struggle that young, old, healthy, sick and/or poor are involved in. Tired or feeling lazy or not.
These are just a few of the reasons for being proud of America and to be proud of being an American. Regardless of what country you or your parents were born in, what gender you are, and what beliefs you hold, I think you are beginning to see some of America’s greatness.
Ever wonder why so many people want to come to this country? Why they are willing to leave behind family and friends? Why they are willing to come here even when they can’t speak the language, have no job, and no idea where they will live? Would you leave America, your family, your friends and go to a country where you didn’t know anyone? Not only do you not know anyone but you can’t speak or understand the language and you have little or no money?
What causes people to do that? Do you think they are adventurous, looking for a vacation, something different? Yes, they seek something different and it’s called a better way of life. They have heard or read about America probably in a classroom or from Americans who have visited their country or people in the area who have been and may still be in America. They like what they hear. And what they hear is that America is the land of opportunity for those who are willing to work, that there is freedom to be found in America. That you can think as you like and speak what you want without fear of the government throwing you in jail or killing you or threatening your family. That you can worship the God of your choice in the manner you choose. FREEDOM! OPPORTUNITY! No barriers such as race, color, age, sex, family connections or beliefs. America is a beacon for people all over the world.
Do you wonder why people condemn America, put her down, and show no respect for her? What do you think the reasons are for this? First, isn’t it wonderful to live in a country where this can happen? Freedom of speech is guaranteed in our basic document of law, the Constitution.
Second, this attitude of no respect occurs often because we don’t know our history. We forget or don’t know that Americans have died on foreign soils, not to expand this nation’s reach, but to ensure other people’s freedoms and to protect their lives. Often, people who don’t accept our ideas or our way of life have been recipients of our protection simply because they were weak and unable to defend themselves.
American history, all history, needs to be studied remembering the prevailing attitudes of the time you are studying. It’s easy for us today, to look back and point out the “sins of our fathers.” But if you were living during that time would you have acted any differently? How can we know the answer to that question? Maybe this exercise will help you understand my point.
You are living in a time when illegal immigration into this country is a “hot” topic. How do you feel about it? If you could write the laws concerning this issue what would they look like? Or would you ignore the problem? Open our borders and let everyone in? Put the military at the borders and let no one in? Build a longer, higher fence? Dig a deep and wide moat? Charge people money to come in?
Or have you even thought about the problem? Are you so busy with your day-to-day life you haven’t had time to give it any consideration? Is your attitude: since it doesn’t directly impact me, I’m not concerned about it? Or, I just don’t care? Or, I don’t know the best answer so I’ll let others come up with an answer? Or, illegal immigrants? What illegal immigrants? Whatever your answer there are others who have that same answer. Is it the right one, the best one? Time will tell and a hundred years from now, someone, somewhere will judge that answer as they study their history, which is our current times. They won’t know you nor will they know much about what your life was like except in generalities. But they will decide if you, if America, did a good job or a poor job concerning illegal immigrants.
Another point I need to make is judging a country and its actions is like judging people you know. If you like them and they misbehave, you tend to forgive them and to overlook the behavior. If you don’t like them and they misbehave, you’re more likely to be angry with them and hold the bad behavior against them. Has that been your experience?
Popular sentiment plays into judging a country and its actions as well. We are all affected by how people around us think. Many of us follow the crowd without realizing that is what motivates our behavior. We all want approval and before you know it, we’ve adopted ideas to get that approval.
Often times we haven’t really thought about what is being presented. Sometimes those ideas were presented just to get us thinking. Sometimes they were presented so the presenter could be different from everyone else. Sometimes the presenter has read and learned only one side of the issue and that’s all they know. (Remember there are three sides to every story; his, hers and the TRUTH.) And what you are hearing is supported by the group you hang with. Everywhere you go it seems all agree that America is a terrible country, and you might be tempted to agree. But think about the things you’ve read on this page and ask yourself, is that really true? Is America really a terrible country or is it just popular to bash her these days? Do the mistakes she’s made outweigh the good she has done, is doing and will continue to do? Are people backing up their position with facts or with emotional appeal?
Be a critical thinker. Don’t simply accept what people say. Ask for sources, definitions, and think about what assumptions the speaker is making and presenting as fact.
We at USA 1st believe that if you apply critical thinking you will, as we do, believe that being an American is something to be proud of.
