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Because We're Americans
By John Joseph IV
Today, there is a single mother who will work 16 hours yet again to feed her child and buy him something nice when she can. Although she barely makes ends meet right now, she has an idea. One idea. She may not know it yet, but that one idea will eventually take her to the corner office of her own corporation, which she will name after her son. Her IPO will be a smashing success and will inspire many to follow her example. Because she is an American, she has the freedom to turn her dreams into realities.
Tomorrow, a young man will immigrate to America from his native country, where a ruthless dictator governs. He will attend his first political debate, where he will scold his congressman for taking stances he thinks are "misguided and unrepresentative of your constituents' beliefs." The congressman will defend his positions, but thank the man for his comments. Because he is an American, this man lives in a democracy that encourages him to submit his opinions on the public square, and respects him for doing so.
Yesterday, terrorists steered two planes into the Twin Towers, killing people from all around the world. In the midst of thick black smoke and the possibility of further attacks, firefighters relentlessly searched for survivors. Because they are Americans, those firefighters had the courage to do what they knew to be right, even at cost of life itself.
To be American is to be free, democratic and courageous. We honor our country by respecting those values when others exercise them. We strengthen our country when we let those same values guide our actions. In so doing, we make patriotism less an abstract value, more a guiding paradigm to define the way we live.