What America Means to Me

On this two hundred thirty third birthday of the United States, I wish to take the time to write down some thoughts about my country. I suppose this is the obligatory "what America means to me" piece that everybody does this time of year. However, despite often thinking over this question, I feel that this time of year is a good way of focusing those thoughts.

First off, I can't shake the dark chapters of the history of the United States. Very often we have failed to live up to the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence, or in our Constitution. The scars of slavery and the prolonged war against the native people of this continent will never fully heal, and nor should they. For a country as prosperous as we are, there is far too much poverty, not only along the avenues of cities like Baltimore and Detroit, but the streets of small towns such as Georgetown and Ridge Farm, Illinois. Our lack of foresight and willingness to compromise our ideals abroad, although at time necessary, are still causing us troubles in areas across the globe.

With that being said, I still think this country is something to be proud of, even if the past 8 years made me hang my head in shame far too often. We may have slipped up in attempting to live up to our high ideals, but we certainly keep trying. The United States is constantly in a state of perfection, attempting to right the wrongs of our past, while also striving to leave a better tomorrow for our posterity. At a time when absolutism was the dominant political theory, we said "no thanks", and created a republic. Flawed though it was, requiring us to fight a bitter civil war to fix the evil of slavery, and flawed though it still is, we continue moving forward, asking "Why not?" when others ask "why?"

Ours is a nation teeming with bounty and natural beauty. Whether you marvel at the beauty of Yellowstone and Yosemite, or stand atop a ridge and peer over vast acreages of crops in the Midwest, the United States is a sight to see. We were the first nation to establish a National Park, and our current system is one of the finest in the world. If you get a chance, I suggest you visit a national park at least sometime this year.

I am proud of those who fought on the battlefields from Concord to Gettysburg, from the Ardennes to Normandy, and from Inchon to Afghanistan. Although I may disagree with the conflicts these men and women are thrown into, let it be known that they have willfully volunteered to give the last full measure of devotion to our country. In addition to our regular forces, I must not forget to honor the men and women of the National Guard. After all, these units are the descendants of our citizen volunteer and militia units, the successors to the farmers, tradesmen, and workers who laid down their tools to pick up their rifles in defense of our nation.

But one must rememeber that democracies are not built on the battlefields. The words, sacrifices, and actions of our civilians are just as important in establishing our current nation as our armed forces. I think about John Adams, a man who successfully defended the British soldiers who were involved in the Boston Massacre. His case showed that even those who oppose us deserve their day in court. I think about the abolitionists, the women's sufferagists, and the civil rights activists who fought the good fight, even if it wasn't popular. I think about Rosa Parks, a woman who set off a new era in the United States just by refusing to move on a bus. I think about the various anonymous people who go about their lives, making sure they leave this country a better place than the one they found.

The recent election of Barack Obama as our 44th President was an awesome step forward, as he and his family now live in a house that just 150 years ago they couldn't have entered unless they were servants. So far he has taken some critical steps to remove us from the mess that the previous administration created. However, we still have a long way to go. Great questions about health care, poverty, immigration, the environment, and GLBT rights still have to be answered. Above all of that is the question of what the role of our nation in this century will be. Not all of these will be answered completely, or at all in the short term, but I am confident that we are on the right track in dealing with these issues. The great experiment continues, forever attempting to correct its mistakes and make this a place where truly all men are created equal.