So, 232 years ago a group of 56 men representing a larger group of people presented a document to the world declaring our independence from the most powerful nation on earth. The fact that these men even gathered together was already declared an act of treason by King George III. Yet, they still signed the declaration or death warrant, as some called it.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident," the document declares, "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness – That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."
Wow.
Today, America faces many problems, but as long as we have innovative thinkers and a courageous citizenry, then this country which was founded with a "firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence" will surely overcome our current obstacles. We have certainly risen above them before.
I read the polls that show America is not looked upon favorably in much of the world. Sometimes doing the right thing is controversial. The fact of the matter is America remains the world's greatest hope. If not for America, who would stand up to Islamist would-be tyrants who seek to impose their medieval and sadistic vision on the world? Even as many Europeans heap scorn on us and our foreign policy, they continue to gladly take comfort in the protection our military might provides them.
Yes, for so many reasons, America is a remarkable nation. Speaking in 2002 to an MTV audience, former Secretary of State Colin Powell explained to a hostile questioner what makes America so unique in world history. He said,
"[F]ar from being the Great Satan, I would say that we are the Great Protector.
We have sent men and women from the armed forces of the United States to other
parts of the world throughout the past century to put down oppression. We
defeated Fascism. We defeated Communism. We saved Europe in World War I and
World War II. We were willing to do it, glad to do it. We went to Korea. We went
to Vietnam. All in the interest of preserving the rights of
people.
"And when all those conflicts were over, what did we do?
Did we stay and conquer? Did we say, ‘OK, we defeated Germany. Now Germany
belongs to us? We defeated Japan, so Japan belongs to us?’ No. What did we do?
We built them up. We gave them democratic systems which they have embraced
totally to their soul. And did we ask for any land? No, the only land we ever
asked for was enough land to bury our dead. And that is the kind of nation we
are."
There is a reputation that America has, which we should not be too quick to give up. It is encapsulated in a story Ronald Reagan told during his farewell address in 1989. The image that kept coming back to our outgoing president, as he was reflecting upon America and his tenure in the White House, was "a nautical one – a small story about a big ship, and a refugee and a sailor."
"It was back in the early ’80s," Reagan said, "at the height of the boat people. And the sailor was hard at work on the carrier Midway, which was patrolling the South China Sea. The sailor, like most American servicemen, was young, smart and fiercely observant. The crew spied on the horizon a leaky little boat. And crammed inside were refugees from Indochina hoping to get to America. The Midway sent a small launch to bring them to the ship and safety. As the refugees made their way through the choppy seas, one spied the sailor on deck and stood up and called out to him. He yelled, ‘Hello, American sailor. Hello, freedom man.’”
I would like to think I would have had the wherewithal to stand with those men at the precipice of history and do a virtual snub-your-nose at Great Britain. I wonder. I am pretty set in my ways. I certainly am old-school. Would I have sided with the patriots or rebels as the crown called them? I think my disdain for unjust government would have been the kicker. Taxation without representation would have me a rebel. Crown be damned.
Despite its faults we still live in the greatest nation on earth. We are not the cause of the worlds ills. We have had more men die for other peoples liberty than any nation that ever existed on the face of God's green earth. We don't just talk the talk but we walk the walk. I am proud to be an American.
Always have been and always will be.
I missed the question about the number of ammendments to the Constitution. D'OH!
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