For those of us engaged in the effort to end the slow decay in the American system that has come from decades of poor public policy in Washington, it wouldn’t be hard to argue we’re motivated by pride. Call it pride in country, pride in our fellow Americans, emblematic pride connected to institutions like the military, successful businesses, or sporting teams and organizations. Whatever, we want to be proud. We want to restore our system so we can once again be unabashedly proud of America.
We don’t want to be part of the failure of the greatest country ever created by mankind.
Thankfully, while weakened by years of the encroachment of the progressive movement, we still are an unmatched nation. We still have so much to be proud of. What we accomplish as a nation each day in the conduct of our life is completely impressive. We can each take license in enjoying our incredible system of societal formation. We can each take pride in the success of the other.
It’s hard to be engaged in correcting what ails us and remain positive. To correct problems we have to understand their origin, compel all others to pay attention, and convince those who aren’t sufficiently engaged to realize the dangers ahead if we don’t move America back to the right and her proper historical pathway. It mostly means focusing on the negative. We must not allow ourselves to forget the positive…the pride.
It’s OK to praise all that is good without then countering with all that is bad. There will always be something bad to juxtapose against the good, we’re imperfect humans.
American history is an incredible story. Wow! Think of it. With warts and all, there is so much to be proud of. Each of us alive today who can call themselves Americans are fortunate beyond our understanding.
Be proud. We’ve earned it. Today, are you not proud of the fact American citizens played such an important role in rescuing the Chilean miners?
What a country: the landscape, the structures, the cities, the highways and bridges, college sports, pro sports, universtiies and colleges, freedom, choice, vigourous debate, family, planes going this way and that, malls and restaurants, electricity/water/heat/ac on demand, elections all around us, faith, volunteers, helping hands, unthought of wealth from hard work and ingenuity, eacy access to great health care, super stores, entertainment at our beckon call, our unmatched all volunteer military force, space shuttles, space stations.
You with me?
Pick something to be proud of, there are so many choices.
Ray Charles. What a talent. Suffered the challenges of the human condition, found what he was good at, worked his butt off, stayed focused, and the rest of us had our life improved by his. I never met the man, but I take pride in Ray Charles. I’m proud to call him my fellow American. He was a proud American. He was a flawed individual, just like each of us. He faced challenges few of us can appreciate. It didn’t matter. We embraced him. He entertained us in a way few singers or muscians ever have or will. We should take great pride in Ray Charles. Like us, he was an American.
America is so successful millions of us can spend time worrying about America. That in and of itself is something to be proud of.
Don’t despair. Don’t give up and give in to the easy way out through malaise and violence. Don’t think it’s over for America. It’s not. We can solve all of our man made problems.
Take pride in your country and fellow Americans. Enjoy the emblematic pride in our institutions and businesses, be it the military or Apple. Embrace our collective exceptionalism.
Perhaps a touch of benevolence in our self interest is all that’s needed to surmount our current challenges.
