What does it mean to be an American today? Whether you are a U.S. citizen by birth, or a naturalized American, you should think about this daily. What is an American? What is it about our way of life and culture that makes millions of foreigners risk life and limb to get here? Do we have a unique American culture?
The United States of America is one of the youngest nations on the planet, yet we have the oldest continuous form of government in existence. Americans have played a major role in world affairs over the last 100 years. We have stood as democracy's bulwark against imperialism, fascism, communism, and now, Islamism. We have helped to liberate oppressed peoples; participated in post-war reconstruction, nation-building efforts, and peace-keeping operations; created global peace organizations; and offered aid and relief to disaster, famine, and war victims around the world.
Americans, individually, engage ourselves in grass-roots peace and political movements; create, support, and work for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) dedicated to world peace and poverty-relief; and have the freedom to protest or support both our own governmental policy, and those of other nations.
Despite all of these proud and genuine accomplishments, there are people, groups, organizations, and governments that are not only ignorant of Americans' contributions to world peace and security, but are actually hostile to our efforts. Ironically, they see the United States of America as a threat to the "balance of power" in global affairs. Why are so many groups arrayed against us? Why is there so much anti-Americanism, even among so-called Western "allies" like France, Germany, Spain, and Italy?
These are tough issues that demand hard questions. Many Americans will be tempted to question our role in the world, or to forget that there was once a Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union that impacted many of the trouble spots and hotbeds of anti-Americanism today. There are those in this country who will proclaim that we are "hated" throughout the world, but they will fail to point out that those who "hate" us are members of, or supporters of terror groups, fascist and socialist organizations, and dictators in communist and Islamist regimes dedicated to the execution of war and tyranny against the U.S. and her allies.
We live in a very unstable world full of dictatorships and evil. Historically, and to a greater extent even today, the projection of American military power, combined with our diplomatic efforts, are the only things standing in the way of global chaos and anarchy.
So where do you and I, as Americans, fit in? What do Americans believe in? What do we stand for? What do we believe our role in the world should be? As Americans we are all in a unique position to effect change, whether at the local, county, state, national or even global level. It is our responsibilty to promote and support freedom and democracy throughout the world; to aid beleaguered democratic governments being assaulted by oppressive movements; to liberate freedom-loving peoples from dictatorial regimes; and to thwart, dismantle, and in some cases, destroy, any and all groups that would seek the destruction of the United States of America and our allies.
Think about America every day. Stay informed! Read your history. Each one of us should talk to at least one person a day about America, what it is to be American, and what our role and obligation to the cause of freedom and world peace is. This is our mission. It is the mission of every American Son or Daughter of Liberty.
The United States of America is one of the youngest nations on the planet, yet we have the oldest continuous form of government in existence. Americans have played a major role in world affairs over the last 100 years. We have stood as democracy's bulwark against imperialism, fascism, communism, and now, Islamism. We have helped to liberate oppressed peoples; participated in post-war reconstruction, nation-building efforts, and peace-keeping operations; created global peace organizations; and offered aid and relief to disaster, famine, and war victims around the world.
Americans, individually, engage ourselves in grass-roots peace and political movements; create, support, and work for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) dedicated to world peace and poverty-relief; and have the freedom to protest or support both our own governmental policy, and those of other nations.
Despite all of these proud and genuine accomplishments, there are people, groups, organizations, and governments that are not only ignorant of Americans' contributions to world peace and security, but are actually hostile to our efforts. Ironically, they see the United States of America as a threat to the "balance of power" in global affairs. Why are so many groups arrayed against us? Why is there so much anti-Americanism, even among so-called Western "allies" like France, Germany, Spain, and Italy?
These are tough issues that demand hard questions. Many Americans will be tempted to question our role in the world, or to forget that there was once a Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union that impacted many of the trouble spots and hotbeds of anti-Americanism today. There are those in this country who will proclaim that we are "hated" throughout the world, but they will fail to point out that those who "hate" us are members of, or supporters of terror groups, fascist and socialist organizations, and dictators in communist and Islamist regimes dedicated to the execution of war and tyranny against the U.S. and her allies.
We live in a very unstable world full of dictatorships and evil. Historically, and to a greater extent even today, the projection of American military power, combined with our diplomatic efforts, are the only things standing in the way of global chaos and anarchy.
So where do you and I, as Americans, fit in? What do Americans believe in? What do we stand for? What do we believe our role in the world should be? As Americans we are all in a unique position to effect change, whether at the local, county, state, national or even global level. It is our responsibilty to promote and support freedom and democracy throughout the world; to aid beleaguered democratic governments being assaulted by oppressive movements; to liberate freedom-loving peoples from dictatorial regimes; and to thwart, dismantle, and in some cases, destroy, any and all groups that would seek the destruction of the United States of America and our allies.
Think about America every day. Stay informed! Read your history. Each one of us should talk to at least one person a day about America, what it is to be American, and what our role and obligation to the cause of freedom and world peace is. This is our mission. It is the mission of every American Son or Daughter of Liberty.
posted by victor cass | 10:18 AM
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