In honor of 240 years of independence, I think it’s time we finally talk about something that is happening all around us: the death of patriotism. There was once a day when patriotism was expected and almost demanded from citizens just like us. But it didn’t have to be forced because most people understood how priceless freedom and independence are. Anymore, it is almost offensive to say that you love your country. It’s almost as if it is bad to say that you believe that you live in the greatest place on earth. Why is that?
I want to be clear that I’m not saying that America is some perfect haven. No one who has ever watched the news could believe that. I know that statistically speaking we are far from being number one in any category that we would want to be, and what I see happening politically deeply concerns me. We could talk all day about the flaws and shortcomings of our nation; Corruption, greed and hostility run rampant in our Capitol. We can’t agree to save our lives. But I don’t think it boils down to stats and numbers or even politics.
This country was founded by imperfect men. Men who had no more qualification to run an entire country than you or I do. Probably even less actually. But that’s the beauty of it. This country wasn’t created on a set of ideals that makes for what we would want a perfect nation to look like — theories in a textbook on what a nation should be. It’s founded on a set of ideals that makes the most out of what the world around us — the real world — has to offer. The entire basis of what we believe is centered around how we can make life great for the normal, everyday people (like you and me).
It’s absolutely false to say that we live in a nation that prides itself on rags-to-riches stories and the stories of men who have gone down in history. While those are great, the greatest thing about America is that the whole point is finding joy in the simple things. We surround ourselves with families and friends and loved ones who we can make lasting memories with. The real thing we pride ourselves on is telling the stories of people who have risen from the worst situations to find that domestic bliss — the fatherless who grew up to become fathers; the orphans who have families. That’s what we should love about America.
What patriotism does for our country isn’t some blind, naive belief that we are just magically the best place in the world. It binds us together. It unifies us in a pursuit that drives us to be the best in the world. It tells us that we should pour money and resources into growing leaps and bounds in every area possible. It tells us to value intelligence, integrity, and ingenuity over the superficial. It tells us that, in this country, there should be no limitations on what a person can accomplish simply because of the color of their skin or the amount of money in their bank account. It tells us that if we can dream it, we can do it. And most of all, it uses success stories as a model for our pursuits, not something we should try to tear down out of our own jealousy.
The fatal flaw in this system is the one thing that people don’t like about it. It tells us that anyone can be a winner, but we can’t all be winners. Sometimes, we don’t achieve the dreams we dream. Sometimes, we don’t become rich or famous. Sometimes, we don’t solidify our names in the history books. But that is where I come back to the most valuable thing this country offers: people. It is here that we raise our families and our children with the knowledge that we have the freedoms we so often take for granted — freedoms that millions of men have died to defend. It is here that we make our friends. It is here that find that the greatest success isn’t in money or fame. Rather, it is in the people and the memories we love. Without our freedoms and our basic rights, none of this is possible. That is what I love about America.
