Celebrate Independence Day - America is Good and Great
Posted: Wednesday, July 02, 2008
by Tim Langley
Langley Chiropractic Office
Another Fourth of July approaches as our country is embroiled in another conflict. Regardless of what you think about the War on Terrorism or the war in Iraq, it IS important that we reflect on the goodness and the greatness of the United States of America.
I know America bashing has been a popular sport since long before I came along. But, my frame of reference starts in my high school days during the height of Vietnam. I remember many of the same protests we hear today about America being an imperialist power, about how we destroy the environment and how we oppress our own people. And, I wonder, "Has nothing changed? Are we no better than we were then OR were we ever really as bad as that?"
While many predict the destruction of America and its ideals, I predict just the opposite. Some view America as the land of greed; corruption; racism; hostility toward the environment, human rights and the poor, and war-mongering imperialism. Folks on the other end of the spectrum warn of pending doom because of moral decay, our bloated and ineffective government, pacifism, the ACLU and an over-reaching judiciary. Unfortunately, both sides see the solutions to THEIR perceived problems with America as more Government involvement in people's personal and business lives.
America is a good and noble nation. With few exceptions, we've always been a good world citizen. Whenever tragedy strikes, the World looks to America and America responds. If a crisis (real or perceived) exists, the World looks to America to provide scientists, workers, military or financial support and America responds. Whether it's the United nations, the World Bank or a host of other international agencies, the majority of their funding is provided by the United States. America is a good world neighbor and a good country. America is good.
America is great. Peoples from all over the world risk life, limb and wealth to get themselves and their families to America. They know that if they can just get to America, they have a chance to build a life free of fear, disease and tyranny. Our country was formed on the premise that "all men (Mankind) were created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". From our Declaration of Independence that set the American Ideal to our Constitution that limits the power of Government and was (and IS) prejudiced in favor of individual freedom and responsibility, everything about America says "You can!"
In America, can you speak out against your Government and political leaders without fear of retribution. In America, you can worship (or not) as you please. In America, you can start as a poor child raised in Government housing or as an immigrant farm worker to become a millionaire in your own business. In America, you can dream. You can be as great as your imagination will allow you to be or as sorry and lazy as you want to be. In America, opportunity flourishes because innovation rarely waits on the Government. In America, you can get rich from a good idea or by developing your skills, knowledge and talent. In America, you can determine your own future. Despite our flaws,mistakes and blemishes, America is a great country. Simply put, America is great.
During this Independence Day weekend, please take a moment to reflect on America's greatness. think about it in terms that reflect and affect your own life, those around you and the World as a whole. Strive to be the best you can be and to live up to the greatness our Founding Fathers saw in YOU and in YOUR country.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Tim Langley is a chiropractor, economist and business consultant. He lives and practices in Marietta, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Dr. Langley writes on issues that relate to health, business, personal development, economic development and politics. He is also the developer of "The Membership Practice". You can find out more about Dr. Langley at his web site http://www.langleychiropractic.com or through his blog at http://drtim.wordpress.com. You can write or visit Dr. Langley at 2100 Roswell Road #200C-526, Marietta, GA 30062.
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Top-level comments on this article: (7 total)Great article. Covers pretty much what most Americans feel about our country--Love it, or Leave it. We have a wonderful country and, although, we do have our problems (all families do); but if we stick together and do what we think is right, we will prevail. Good times will come again. Sandra
A very informative article Tim America as a nation is great. The optimism, drive and humanitarian spirit of its people are recognized world wide. This country throughout its history has faced challenging times and will probably continue to do so. But the pride, determination and unyielding spirit of its people will ride out the tougher times and enable us all to celebrate our future victories with confidence and gusto. Happy July 4th!
Yes you are right 100% on all the virues and goods about America. It is the PEOPLE you write about, yes the PEOPLE that are this natin. That is why when people speak out they are so strong in preserving the freedoms, values, culture and heritage of this nation for posterity. Howevr, if one does not see or even ignores the signs and symbols all about in the suffering of so many? Then as our forefathers warned we willr eap what we sow. To borrow from another writer "People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved." Matthew 9, vs.16, 17 It si time for new wineskins her ein America to preserve what you have justw ritten to. Those who talk about politics are not anti American they are Pro American and love this nation so much so that they will speak out for her. best wishes.
I am from Canada.
I travel a lot to Europe. And I used to travel a lot to Africa and Asia.
Tim you have to learn and travel. The world does not share your ideas. You claim to be an economist. Please have a look at middle class America and see the suffering. Please have a look at the US health security system. America does not care for its own poor citizen. Please think about the war in Iraq. Has the world become safer?
Americans have to understand America is not a great nation anymore. It has been replaced by emerging economies and Europe.
America is still big, still powerful but on the decline and you cannot afford the war effort.
I am totally amazed this article got 1st prize. It is a dream.Anonymous,America is STILL great. It's hard for someone not from America to understand its greatness. I think I mentioned that we're not perfect... or ever have been.While we might probably agree to some degree on the iraq situation, I believe you're absolutely wrong about America not caring for its poor. I'd be willing to bet that even the poor in America have a quality of life that far exceeds the average world citizen. Even the so-called "emergin economies" to which you refer got there by emulating the American model. And, the European confederation is having its own problems. Did you notice that the EU was rejected by Ireland BECAUSE its citizens did not want some big centralized Government in Brussels telling them how to run their country and their lives?One more thing you're at least patially right about. America IS a dream. It's the dream of freedom from Government control, freedom from oppression and freedom from some centralized force telling us how to live our lives. The dream lives on and will continue to set the tone for the rest of the World for some time.Thanks for the note and the feedback.
Tim,
I completely agree with your essay and do not share the opinion of Anonymous. I am a professional writer and work with clients in countries all around the world. I also have friends who have lived in a number of countries recently, including several in the Middle East. I can tell you that, if anything, I am amazed that people love America, even in places where we are told they hate us.
I wrote a feature story about an American linguist who has been working in Iraq for some time now. What he told me surprised me. What we are not told in the media is that there was an event in Iraq called the Anbar Awakening, which was when the Iraqi people and tribal leaders realized that the U.S. had their best interests and future at heart. They finally saw the evil of Al Qaida and enlistments in Iraqi police departments and the Iraqi military took off. Don't believe news reports; the Iraqi's love us.
I also have a friend who lived and worked in Saudi Arabia up until a month ago. He met lots of Saudi's and others from surrounding countries. He was amazed at how much the people he met loved Americans and our country. He was extended every hospitality.
America does have to be careful. There are ideologies that will undermine our future. Our founding fathers had it right, and their wisdom is what made us the greatest country on earth. There are people who think we must be more 'progressive' and move away from our founding documents. This would be an enormous mistake. While we have the freedom to voice our opinions and advocate new ideas, we should not second-guess the people who had such a great vision for our country.
America has gone to war without 'grabbing land' from other countries as so many others have done. We have helped others based on principle, not greed. In terms of the Iraq war, we have to remember one important fact; no two democracies have ever gone to war with each other. If you have democracies in the Middle East, you end the cycle of bloodshed forever.
There is a reason so many immigrants come to our country. There is freedom and opportunity here like few other places. Anonymous is simply wrong.
At least this author is aware of what has been happening to America because he has a list of what's wrong. However he is an ostrich. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. America's people are good The puppet government does not have the peoples' interest in mind. I love my country but I fear my government.Hey, I'm a Libertarian. I'm with you all the way. I never said our Government was so hot. It's NOT Government that makes America great. It's the principles on which America was formed: freedom, self-determination and ownership. When people are free they pursue their own greatest potential. It's that drive that makes our people great and our country great.
Politics, like religion, distort the message and pits party over principle. America's greatness will overcome our current challenges as it has so many in the past.
... and then there are some, like me, who left the country, gave up U.S. citizenship and laugh at its idiocy from abroad: its schizophrenic foreign policy, its wars, its dumb domestic policies, its ridiculous national debt, its fascist tax policies, its atrocious level of education, its shallow media, its blatant disregard for the environment just to name a few. I left 7 years ago and it has been some of the best 7 years of my life. I work in SE Asia and live part of the year in Thailand and part in Switzerland. I save a hundred thousand a year in taxes and, for the money I would otherwise have to ram down the throat of the U.S. government, I tour castles on the Loire, dine in Venice, ski in the Dolomites, mountain bike in Switzerland, swim on Phuket Island and ride elephants in the Thai rainforest. When I do go to the States, which is not very often, I have to go through the non-citizen line at immigration, which always takes a lot longer, but it is a small price to pay for the freedom and real life I have gained!
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