What does it mean to be an American? Nearly 20 years ago, I can imagine everyone in America fighting for their shot in the so called “American Dream.” This dream now feels almost like a fairy tale and dust in the wind. Back from a time before my arrival into this world, people stood up for what was right and moral. People wouldn’t tarnish the title of being an American, and people would be willing to die for their family, home, community and country.

As a kid I always thought when I said "American" it stood alongside of "patriot" -- a person that upheld what the country was made on and strived to make it a better place. Now the word "American" doesn’t mean what it previously stood for. Now it has two meanings: the people who live in America and the patriots.

What do I mean by patriots? I mean the people who hold their nation’s flag with the utmost respect and believe what it stood for. Young men many years ago fought for their freedom from tyrants and evil men who waged war on the innocent. Growing up in middle school I always remember this saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words may never hurt me.” In 2016, that saying has been morally abolished and people are offended by anything. As a kid, if someone said something that offensive, then tough. What am I going to do about it? You brush it off and have a, "So what?" attitude. Now teenagers in America have their parts torn because someone hurt their feelings. What happened to growing up? Who cares what the other guy thinks about you. If that person doesn’t pay your bills, feed you, give you shelter or hold any other influence in your life, they have no say. This also applies to your actions towards someone else. Let’s be clear, you aren’t entitled to anything until you earn it.

Early on, I was helping my dad work outside, and when I was old enough to decide I wanted something, I had to earn it and save enough money for it. Now, self-entitled teenagers and sorry college students want free stuff…without lifting a finger. My generation has started ripping our country into a thousand pieces, and it is going to get worse. It’s all about me, me, me. It’s not about you.

People in America don’t understand the value of the liberties that we get. Like those students that are so self-entitled to free stuff they think stepping on our flag is going to reproduce hand-outs. In other countries, if you stand on your flag, then you can be jailed, fined and/or executed. They have the audacity to stand on a flag, but not the will to defend the flag. We have people who live in America who want a woman as president who let four Americans die. Forget about your party, how could you vote for someone like that. What happened to the American spirit?

We have lost so much of ourselves and have lost sight of so many things. We have a guy who is apologizing to countries who started wars with us when he should be doing other things. We have a president who hates Americans, but people hide behind the party because all they want is a part in the history books even they are willing letting those leaders destroy everything around us. I wish America could find the heart it once had. I fear my children will live in a cruel and more evil world than what I’m living in now. But it’s our fault. We think voting will help, but until we stand up for what its right, we will never find that peace and hope again. So are you helping rebuild or helping destroy? Just remember you’re leaving behind a legacy; shape it the way it should be for everyone else’s sake.