The United States of America has an opportunity sitting in its hands that has the possibility of continuing the most exceptional growth the world has ever seen. Our nation has had continuing upward success from its creation. We have gone so far onward and so far upward, climbing up this seemingly insurmountable mountain. If we are to continue our movement in ways people 50, 100, 200 years ago could have never imagined, we as Americans, need to take a different stance.
The United States is exceptional, our people are not. We used to believe we were the best, and we still do. Americans believed we had the favor of God. We fell in love with the idea of the American struggle. Citizens of our country relished in the idea that we had it tough, but we had the grit and hard working mentality to overcome any challenge in our way. We are supposed to win, and we are going to win every time.
The idea that the nation is exceptional spilled over to citizens. We are the people of the United States, and if the United States is strong and independent, we as individuals are tough as well. We don't need anyone else to help us to get farther in life.
Add the belief that everyone can succeed on their own, and if we are doing well for ourselves, why not reap all the benefits?
Our strong sense of individualism drove us to conquer a wild continent, conduct the largest land moving project, and send a man to the moon. We are where we are today because we believe we will always win, but at what cost?
Our movement has propelled some to the top, but has left many in the dust. This is not what we need to be doing. Our promotion of the individual has ripped out our compassion, our empathy. We place the blame on those who fail, and not on ourselves, who failed to help our fellow man.
What happened to the idea of being my brother's keeper? We'll only help the brother who can help us move forward in turn. We don't help the brother who has no business to offer. We don't help the brother who is faced down in the muck we've thrown him into.
Americans can no longer turn their eye from those who have nothing but their gratitude and friendship to offer. The world is getting too small for us to look away.
The American black man who was forced to drug dealing, because he had no other opportunities to turn to. The Sudanese woman who was born into the slave trade and will spend her life in the slave trade. She failed because she didn't work hard enough. Her country is on the verge of genocide and ethnic cleansing, but she doesn't deserve our help because she didn't work for it. The Syrian boy who has lost his way of life, his home, and his family.
No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here. That's what we need to say. We need to open our arms and embrace the many who can look nowhere but down. You aren't tolerated here, you are accepted here. That is how America will move forward.
