For some time now I have been trying to consider how I wanted to express my thoughts on this matter. There is no doubt this will likely attract comments from different individuals on different sides of the political isle. This however, is something that I have been thinking of for a very long time and I have a true deep heartfelt concern about. This is not meant to necisarilly be a political perspective but rather an expression of my personal concern for America, its people, and its future.
Yes, I am an American. What does that mean now? America no longer is viewed on the grounds of how it used to be many years ago. America now seems to be viewed by the world as now nothing special. Nothing "great" about it. America used to be known as a "great" nation. "Land of Opportunity" was one of its tag lines. "Land of the Free. Home of the Brave" was another. Now it seems its message has been severely muddled and tainted within political discourse, strife, and waring ideas about America's place in the world. Many years ago there was a sense of appreciation for America. Being an American was worn with pride. Now across the social world of internet forums, media, and social gatherings it seems being an American is something to be ashamed of. What has changed over the years many ask. Where did America lose its pride? What happened to the respect it seemed to once hold?
There are many answers to these questions. Much of it is seen within blame cast from each of the political sides. There is an ever growing discord within America that expands closer every day to the level it was before the American Civil War. It is the war of ideas. A war between what America should be. What should be its purpose. Yes, America is conflicted. Much has changed within the land of America since its founding. Some things good. Some things bad. America continues to be the most powerful nation on the earth in terms of Economy and Military. But it seems that is now becoming threatend. It wasn't just mere chance that America rose to its power. No, America rose to such power because of its people. Its Freedoms that gave every single man and woman the equal opportunity to obtain success. The opportunity to put sweat into their labor and recieve the benefits it brings. True the people of America have not always shared in equal opportunity within varrying race and gender, but eventually those have been working themselves out so that all have equal opportunity. It was the way America's foundation was laid out. It is what allowed unjust practices to become Just. No, America could not have become so powerful by chance. The purpose of America was for all people to experience Freedom and Liberty. Has America always been on the right side and treating all men equally? No. But through its founding, wrongs were able to be corrected and made right.
America may still be a powerful nation. But its foundation is cracked. Its people are cracked. divided. Clash on ideas of the nations framework and purpose. A nation of true freedom and liberty cannot be defined by its Government. These are within the nature of man...to be free. It seems as time goes on Americans war on class, race, ect. rich vs. poor. black vs white vs latino. Haves vs Have nots. Religious vs non-religious. men vs women. young vs old. Everywhere you look someone is arguing with another on American ideals. When the world sees a nation that argues with itself on so many occasions it muddles its own message.
There is however another growing problem. This problem already has begun in other nations. Namely some nations in Europe. It is the poison that has the ability to kill any democratic nation. It is the poison of entitlement. It is not the kind of entitlement that one can work to offer themselves. It is the entitlement mentality that individuals feel should be given to them. This ideal is now gripping America and furthering the damage upon the foundation of "freedom and liberty". When the people of a nation are continually given something, then why should they be motivated to earn it with thier own sweat and dedication. What made America a great nation was the freedom its people had to make success for themselves. The liberty they held apart from government. The average american realized if they did not work, they did not eat. Sweat equity is what earned them their success.
Take away a man's ability to have pain and harship. You take away the man's ability to risk it all. The more you do for a man to feed and clothe him, the less he has to work for himself. The greatest blunder that America has begun to make has been taking away pain and the risk of failure from the average american man and woman. It is now more important to protect the average american from pain and hardship than it is to enable him the ability to make himself a success. America has been losing its greatness because its people are losing the value of freedom and liberty. a growing number of americans feel that "if my needs can be provided, then I have no need for risk in the marketplace." Freedom is now commonly used as a political slogan. Freedom is now something shrugged off and laughed at, because its meaning has been muddled and distorted.
America is divided and will continue to divide as long as its people do not know the value of freedom and liberty. And as long as they continually lose self reliance and responsibility for themselves.
Yes, I do love my country that is why I do not want to see it fail. The value of freedom and liberty is something I hope for all people.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. Now you may commence with your comments and thoughts ;)
