What binds us, as Americans, together? What makes us “American”? The simplest answer may be this: a shared ideology embracing the principles of freedom, independence, and equality.
Unfortunetely (I think), this results in people, especially Americans, equating themselves and America with the government charged with ensuring and protecting our shared ideology. When someone asks, “what do you love about America?” A lot of people’s minds jump to concepts of government and government policy.
This is, of course, a reasonable leap in thought. However, I don’t equate America with American government.
Why do I love America? What makes America America, for me? The Rockies, our grasslands, our open skies, our desire to continually find new frontiers, our desire for progress, our restless nature, our revolutionary disposition, our fierce independence, and our history of innovation and self-reliance.
We Americans are a unique people with a unique past and, I’m sure, a unique future.
Happy 4th, everyone! And as a side note, I really encourage you to read Pogie’s Fourth of July post.
Last 5 posts by Bob Funk
- Montana: "toss up" state, again - October 20th, 2008
- Quote of the Day - October 1st, 2008
- Thoughts from Alaska - September 25th, 2008
- Food for Thought - September 24th, 2008
- DHS now officially seizing and searching laptops - August 3rd, 2008
{ 0 comments… add one now }