“Make America Great Again”

The most common response I hear to this slogan is one of two options. One, great again? When were we ever great? Or two, we just have a few things to fix and we will be great! My personal opinion is America has always been great! Though this may seem naive or overly patriotic, let me finish and explain why I believe this.

Scrolling through social media and listening to my friends’ conversations reveals one major key theme of modern America. One of these themes is individualism; everyone wants and deserves to be seen as they are. Whether it’s African American’s wanting to be seen for something other than their skin pigmentation or Caucasians looking to break the stereotypical “white” façade, the list could go on and on of people wanting to be recognized for who they are and not what others think they are.

To me what makes a person great is the kindness of their heart when someone is in a time of need and the perseverance they have when times get tough and things aren’t going their way. I will admit that there are times in life that mourning and adjusting is important, however, there are also times where people need to hike up their pants and move along with their life. The courage to do just that while also being thankful for those in their lives that have helped them along the way is incredibly admirable. Things are lost in the blink of an eye: friendships, jobs, people and worst of all lives. Sadly, this will always be a part of the circle of life, and as circles do, they keep on going around and around.

My question to those who think America has never been great: what makes America fall short of your expectations? Is it the government? How about our history? The rules, laws, or policies? What about our financial state? Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t all of these qualities of America similar to qualities we associate with ourselves and being an individual? Don’t some of us have pasts that we aren’t necessarily proud of? Or rules we assign ourselves? A personal financial state that has us declaring that $1 tacos are too expensive? And yet, we accept and embrace these things of ourselves and of others and label it as “individualism.” Could we not embrace America for what it has been, what it currently is, and what it will grow to be the same way we do the people who live here?

To me, what makes up America is individuals. Not its policies, finances, or its history. The individuals from the east coast to the west. The volunteers that make up so many of our fire departments. The many parts of law enforcement that leave their homes and their children to protect the citizens of the country. The teachers who spend countless unpaid hours creating individualized lesson plans for those students who need extra help; keeping those students striving for greatness. Teachers who work late into the night and early in the morning because they spent their after school time and free periods being a confidant to a student in need of companionship and guidance. The farmers who help us put healthy food on the tables. The brilliant writers that bring us news articles and works of fiction to brighten our minds. The bakers who are up before the rooster crows to make beautiful bread with which we fill our stomachs. The people who run to an accident with selflessness and bravery to assist in any way they are able. Some are there simply to direct traffic so that everyone can move on with their day. Medical staff is also present to take control of a situation and use their healing abilities when injuries have occurred. What about the people that line the streets to give blood after a tragedy? These people are not paid for their work, they are doing it because they know that there are others in need and that they can give something of theirs to save someone’s life. Everyone has a purpose and a place. There are so many dedicated mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters that make our life so full and bright. America is not made up of only its faults, nor is any person. No one is free of their past scars, but scars show resilience and the strength to persevere.

Even when catastrophes happen, such as the countless school shootings that occurred this year, or the most recent Orlando tragedy. I am here in Minnesota, driving home past hundreds of American flags flying at half-mast to mourn losses I can’t even imagine. Every flag is a representation of someone who fought for this country in some way and who didn’t make it home. Individual displays of support multiply into hundreds of displays and then into thousands, because in America, you are not alone — we support each other. This is, now and forever, what makes America great.