This election season, it seems like everyone is focused on Trump, especially his most famous line, "Make America great again." As more people are jumping on the Trump bandwagon, this Fourth of July, let's ask ourselves if America can really be great again as Trump says? As we eat barbecue and gaze at the fireworks, think if America has the potential to become greater than it already is. Do Trump supporters think that America has stooped low enough to need a leader that thinks the American spirit is dead? I think that America was already great, and Trump is creating fear to increase his chances of winning the election. A president is supposed to give people the capability to become better than who they were before, to unite them against a common enemy that is destroying the foundation of the nation.
America has the diversity and the opportunities to prove its greatness. America's strength lies with the number of its immigrant workers and the culture their heritage provides for the rest of us. We can appreciate their perspective on life this independence day since their is nothing better than our diversity. Independence was not just from Great Britain. It was from the oppression and tyranny of the British empire and the celebration of our differences. Our ability to stand together as Americans, no matter our differences proves our greatness as America. Trump is leading a campaign that is jeopardizing the crux of America, our freedom. Fourth of July symbolizes the strength in diversity and freedom. If we demanded freedom from Great Britain three hundred years ago, we need to demand it now for all immigrants coming into this country. It becomes incumbent on us as Americans to provide for the freedom of the oppressed, since our nation was founded on the principles of freedom. Diversity makes us great, but freedom makes us American.
"Make America great again," is a slogan, a cheap media campaign that places Donald Trump as the only person that can accomplish a feat that is unnecessary. Being great means appreciating our differences and fighting for the freedom of others at our expense. Being great means not trying to be perfect, but being the best version of ourselves. And while America is not the best it can be, it is better than before. It's improvements are a source of great leadership and a thirst for change that allows unity and coexistence between groups of people, rather than division. Even Abraham Lincoln said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand on its own."
We are becoming a house divided, a nation that is turning in on itself. Only, this is not the Civil War and Trump is not Abraham Lincoln, instead the war we are fighting is against our prejudices and fear. We are fighting an ongoing battle for love against the tyranny we have over ourselves. We are a house divided, but this Independence Day, let us try to open our minds and hearts to a great nation-- a nation that once stood for love and freedom for all. Let us continue to be great.
