Disclaimer: I am in no way trying to trash Donald Trump's presidential campaign or encouraging anyone to vote for Hillary Clinton.
Recently, The Daily Show did a segment where they asked people at the Republican National Convention “what year was America great”? The answers were all a bit frightening considering that most people thought America was great during times of slavery and oppression. But this video made me wonder. When exactly was America great? I mean, there are a whopping 318 million people who live in this country seeking this greatness, so we know it’s there, but what is it and when did it come to be?
See the Daily Show video below:
<span id="selection-marker-1" class="redactor-selection-marker" data-verified="redactor"></span>I agree that this country is amazing. Personally, I have never been denied an education, shelter, or food. But I also know that it’s far from perfect considering all the blunders and utter mess ups done over the years. For that reason, it’s impossible to pick a specific year or era where the United States was great. Take this year for example. The Orlando shooting could have been avoided if the FBI would have stopped Omar Mateen as soon as he was on their radar, but nothing was done. Soon after the shooting, strangers came together to donate blood to the victims and provide relief for the families who lost loved ones. That’s when I see greatness.
From the beginning, when the pilgrims sought freedom of religion from England, America began to become a beautiful country. When people fight for equality -whether it’s by race, gender, or sexual orientation- and that equality is granted, I think America is great. When we help immigrants seek refuge for whatever reason or when we help families suffering from natural disaster stand up again, I think America is great. Whenever I see people fighting for what they think is right, whether it’s being pro-life or pro-choice, I think America is great.
Every Saturday, when I go help at a food pantry, I look around and see all these people helping each other. Everyone working together to feed children and injured parents -- I just can’t help but appreciate the country that I’m living in. We have the right and the freedom to fight for what’s right, even if it takes years to accomplish. For that reason, I’m glad to be a part of this great country.
America is not perfect, it’s far from it. There are homeless veterans and starving children in a place where the top 1% could potentially ease, if not end, the country’s debt. But I'm still proud to call this place my home --this "land of the free" and "home of the brave."
If someone were to ask you "When was America great?" how would you answer?
