TR 150 - When is Violence the Answer?

I am sad for my country.

Yesterday was Independence Day, and I started writing an article about why freedom is important. Building off a recent poll that shows 2 out of 3 people do not know why Americans declared their independence from the crown, I became frustrated by the insanity of having to even address the issue — how could we have come to this? How could Americans not know why we celebrate the 4th of July?

It struck a melancholy note in me and rather than dwell on the matter, I decided to lift the mood by gathering with friends to reflect on the state of life in general. Sipping whiskey, strumming guitars out by the pool, enjoying fellowship under the pines, rolling into town to feast on BBQ chicken, burgers and blue ribbon beers, savoring the world's best sweet mustard sauce, homemade salsa and guac, watching the kids play with explosives, laughing and having fun, talking about goats, guns, and plans for the future... all of this was good for the soul.

This is the America I know and love. People respect the stars and bars. We respect each other. It's a free country. Our flag still stands for freedom and they can't take that away. I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free—and I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me—and I'll gladly stand up, next to you, and defend her still today, 'cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God Bless the USA! I am proud to be an American, and so are my family and friends, and so are you, my friends reading this letter and those in the listening audience.

We love our country, and for the most part, we like it just the way that it is. Sure, we can fix some things—but then again, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The Constitution of the United States was established to secure the blessings of liberty for future generations, and it's worked remarkably, undeniably well. Look at the prosperity, the innovation, the charity, the inspiration that America has brought into the world. Are we wrong to feel like we are the greatest nation on earth? The proof is in the pudding, isn’t it? It isn’t bragging if it's true, right?

I believe we can say those things and speak about American exceptionalism without diminishing other countries. In fact, I believe plenty of people feel that very same way about their own hometowns, tucked into every nook and cranny and corner of the earth. People love their communities, their hamlets, their villages and cities. Or they don't, and they leave. How many people have migrated to America because they believed in the American Dream? Are we not known as the melting pot of the world? The point is this: We should be proud to be Americans, just as others should be proud patriots of their own homeland, because it's the most natural thing in the world.

But something is wrong.