July 4th, 2018
By Larry Shurilla
What makes America great?
Because we’re the biggest or richest kid on the block? Our swagger? Because might makes right? Because we’re beautiful?
I think not. True greatness is never measured in dollars and cents; it’s measured in honor and sense.
What makes America great and always has is that George Washington handed over his sword to Congress after the Revolutionary War.
What makes America great is that Abraham Lincoln emancipated the slaves by the shedding of blood with the musket and canon that matched the shedding of blood with the whip.
What makes America great is that Ben Franklin said and lived, “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
What makes America great is that the Statue of Liberty beckons the homeless to a new home of opportunity, even if they’re wretched and poor.
What makes America great is that one can worship God in their own way without the fear of broken crystal nights.
What makes America great is that we don’t need a wall to keep our citizens in and we don’t need a new wall to keep displaced families out.
What makes America great is that we can say whatever we want to, to whomever we want to, remembering we will be held accountable for the truthfulness of what we speak.
What makes America great is that we can bear arms to protect our families and hunt game, not to break into classrooms and murder children.
What makes America great is that we don’t really follow leaders, we follow the rule of law and so do they.
What makes America great is that we follow a Constitution that allows us to grow and change as a country. If we don’t like a law, we can change it. We can dump tea over board. If we’re doing something wrong, we can change it. We can take the whip out of the master’s hand. We can realize women have the right to vote, the right to fair employment, the right to work without harassment. We can put in writing that Civil Rights are deserved by all Civilians.
What makes America truly great is our sense of public virtue-not swearing, shunning pornography, gambling and addictive substances. Being honest. Following the Golden Rule. Going to church-many churches. Being Generous. Looking at a penny and remembering, “In God WE Trust.”
As you can see, we’ve got some work to do to Make America Great Again, but as I look around I see much good in our chosen land. Americans building homes for those that need one. Citizens raising funds to cure cancer, mental illness, muscular dystrophy, etc. Neighbors bringing over meals for the hurting, helping someone change a tire, stopping a leaky faucet or spending some time with the aged or chronically lonely.
These are the virtues that America was founded upon. These are the virtues that build integrity from within. These are the virtues that forge the steel strength of the United States of America. These are the virtues that can withstand any attack from our enemies, foreign or domestic. These are the virtues that make America great. Always have. Always will.
America is great because of sacrifice. Sacrifices we still have to make today–not to be overlooked. Freedom comes with a price.
America is great because we can do things, and then we can do them in another way, and then again in another way. We can learn from one another, we can learn from ourselves. But we need to respect our selves and respect others the same.