Independence Day

I have to admit I'm rather patriotic. What can I say, I love America and being an American. I love to sing patriotic songs. I love the stars and stripes. I love the fireworks. I love the history. As some of you know, I graduated with a Bachelor's in history. I loved almost every class I took. There is a wealth of knowledge out there about our past and I loved soaking it in. Going through those classes, I obviously heard and read about things that made me less than proud to be an American. But as I studied more of the good men and women who serve in this country, both as officials and just as neighbors and in their communities, I was and am reminded about why I'm proud to be an American. I don't agree with everything that goes on in our government, but isn't it great that I can make that opinion known without the thought of repercussions to myself and family? I see much that isn't working in our country and many people who would want to give their freedoms away and others who would gladly take them. But I still stand strong in the belief that we have been given a great gift by the founding fathers who, through blood, sweat and tears, gave us the foundation of a great country. The idea that any man and any woman can make of themselves who they want to be. How powerful is that? We need not be hampered. We can reach out and grasp that dream. Many people may feel that they cannot reach their dreams because of poverty, abuse and neglect and that's when the coming together of the communities and nation comes in. When things started to get bad, the colonists pulled together. Did they have all the exact same goals and desires for their new country? No! (The Constitutional Convention that took place after the Revolution amply shows that). But in the end, they knew for America to work that there had to be compromise, support of one another and unity. Just because the United States was established didn't mean that things ran smoothly even for a little bit. There has always been turmoil when it comes to what is best for the nation. But the most successful parts of American history boil down to the unity in the idea that America can offer each person freedom. This is really what it means to me to be an American. The idea isn't just freedom for me and my family, but for you and your family as well. We succeed as a people when we seek to preserve not only our own freedoms, but for those around us as well. When this isn't the case, people set themselves above one another, freedoms are squashed and domination abounds. But when we seek not only for ourselves, but true freedom for all, it is the unselfish that comes out; tt is the "what can I do for you" not "what's in it for me" that is forefront in our thoughts. To me, it's like marriage (or any other relationship really). For it to work, we have to think about all the other people involved. We have to work--HARD. There will be times when we feel we're giving everything and not getting much in return. But then when you come out the other side, you realize that it's even better now than it was before. I think after all these ramblings I'm able to put what being an American is to me. It's working hard, taking responsibility for my own personal choices and actions, serving those around me in my neighborhood, community and nation and seeking what is best for me, my family and the nation as a whole. That's the American I want to be.