America: Our Sacred Honor

I believe millions of Americans are bewildered and dismayed with the current state of America. Economic crisis, the threat of terrorism, constitutional chaos, corruption, national security, and foreign relations disasters are issues we are bombarded with on a daily basis. It seems that our “history” is being revised to accommodate political objectives. How did we get to this point? How did it get so bad? Why did things change so drastically since our parents were children? Who is responsible for the current American crisis? Weren’t there any warning signs?

America is at a crossroads and the road we choose to travel will either restore the spirit of America or continue to change our country forever. We the ordinary citizens must make fundamental decisions. There have been warnings, although muffled by media sources, special interest groups, foreigners, and others, the warning voices are growing louder. The voices of genuine concern come from within the United States and from abroad. We Americans need to listen to and take seriously what we are being told. We need to educate ourselves about American history; real, unbiased history. We need to know the Constitution, the cornerstone of our country. We need to hold our politicians and government leaders accountable. We need to remind them that they work for us – The People.

We need to reestablish our uniquely special identity. America is “exceptional” because it is unlike any country in history. Its success, prosperity, growth, standard of living, and its spiritual soul would not have been possible anywhere else or with any other peoples. We are Americans. We are the most generous people on earth and have done more good worldwide than any country, ever. Alexis de Tocqueville, a French journalist who traveled through America in the early nineteenth century stated, “America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.” For the world’s sake, America must retain her “goodness.” There are and have been legitimate criticisms of American behavior that should be addressed, but we cannot let those issues supplant the factual uprightness of America. Most Americans, of diverse beliefs and heritages have a common fundamental belief in the America that was given life with the blood of our forefathers.

Americans have overcome challenges including a revolution, and in the name of liberty established this country; a civil war that nearly ripped this country apart; world wars, natural disasters, recessions, and the Great Depression. We can do it again. We Americans of all races, religions, political affiliations, and economic positions need to band together for the common cause of healing this great nation. It won’t be easy; there are many distractions and detractors, but it can and must be done.

To protect this country our ancestors made significant sacrifices and overcame hardships unimaginable to us. No matter the crisis, when they became engaged, they never gave up, and their character and determination are in each of us. They left us a concise history of events that clearly highlight the fact that liberty and freedom must always be protected. The words of our ancestors, immigrants from around the world guide us. The words of our Forefathers are as relevant today as when they were spoken. Thomas Jefferson warned us when he said, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” Theodore Roosevelt warned us by saying, “The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life.” Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words from 1860 reach across time: “Some men appear to feel they belong to a Pariah caste. They fear to offend, they bend and apologize, and walk through life with a timid step.”

Complacency, appeasement, blind tolerance, and political correctness are historically proven to be temporary and fatal measures only masking problems and prolonging the inevitable. The very problems and threats we do not want to think about grow larger, more complex, and unfortunately, we do not take action until the situation becomes critical. It seems we have become complacent either because we believe we individually cannot have an effect on national events, or think more “qualified” people are taking care of the “important” issues. We have become appeasers paralyzed by political correctness under the guise of tolerance. And, many of us out of frustration have “tuned out” of national involvement purposely quieting our own voices of support and dissent in national issues and events. It is imperative we find our voices and we speak up for our constitutionally guaranteed rights, our fellow citizens, and our country.

Knowledge, cooperation, and action are the tools we must utilize to heal our nation and re-kindle the flame of goodness that has radiated around the globe. Americans must commit to reform on all levels; from our leaders in Washington to the average citizen found in every city and in every county across America. It is time we make our forefathers proud. It is time to get actively involved in our government and our communities. It is time to stand up and defend our rights and the rights of our fellow countrymen. It is time to face reality! We have squandered our freedoms and taken for granted the gifts of this nation. We owe our children a strong vibrant nation, not the shadow of liberty we walk in now. There are things we can do, there are organizations and people we can trust; people committed to America’s best interest. We need the courage to identify significant problems, and not be distracted by trivial politics. We need the resolve to affect positive change. We cannot continue to be passive about political violations of our Constitution. If we all join forces, we can heal our country and America will remain the beacon of liberty and freedom.