When I was in grade school, I remember standing up each morning, along with all the other members of our class, and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. In so doing, I felt a sense of pride as well as an appreciation for living in the freest and most just country on the face of the earth—a land filled with abundant opportunity for everybody. As it was then, so it endures today, as a beacon of hope to the rest of the world.
I see this so clearly when I find myself in conversation with people who have recently come to America. When traveling, I often find myself in a taxicab or an Uber, striking up a conversation with the driver by asking where he is from. In many cases, it turns out he has come to the United States from a foreign country. It could be Eastern Europe, the Middle East, some part of Africa, or elsewhere. Typically, I’ll then ask him if he likes it here in our country, and almost universally, the answer is an enthusiastic “yes.”
Then comes the key question: What is it that you like most about America? Nine times out of ten, with absolutely no hesitation, it’s one word: FREEDOM!!! It’s easy to tell that this is a genuine, deeply felt appreciation for what it means to be in our country. Comparing this to where he has come from, it’s easy for him to see the contrast and hold dear the life and opportunities that can be pursued here. It’s marvelous to witness, and every single time, it makes me proud to be an American and, in a sense, to welcome another human being to the glorious life that can be experienced here.
So often, it’s easy for those of us who have grown up here to take our freedom for granted, to underestimate just how blessed we are to be Americans. In the entire history of the world, there has never existed a country that offers the freedoms and opportunities that we enjoy here. Built upon our founding values, as Thomas Jefferson so eloquently stated: “Endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
While we enjoy these freedoms, it’s also important to remember that, as with any great opportunity, there comes responsibility. In this case, it is our responsibility to contribute to the preservation of our freedom, to instill these values into the fabric of the next generation, and to serve as a beacon of hope—a role model to the rest of the world.
As we enter the holiday season and begin thinking about the New Year, let’s renew our appreciation for what we have here in our great country. We as Americans truly are blessed. So, please take a moment, feel the immense pride, and share the love of freedom with those you hold dear.
