With the 250th anniversary of our country behind us, I’ve been left with a lot of patriotism. It can be easy to focus on the negatives, but when we fix our gaze on gratitude, the solution to this pessimism is all the more evident.
The American Way
My small-town home is filled with good people, character, and history, and its scenic views mean tourism is a driving economic force.
So when a push for a data center made it on the agenda for our town council, the residents were baffled. That monstrosity would be a blot on the natural beauty of our town and devour the already strained utilities and water supply, only to become obsolete in a decade and leave behind financial, health, and environmental ruin.
The meeting went past midnight and was the largest in my town’s history. The room and hallway were packed, so the overflow listeners livestreamed it outside with my Bluetooth speaker. With unanimous sentiment from our citizens to prohibit data centers, the council members should have an easy job deciding their vote.
What especially stood out to me about this meeting was the people. Despite political differences, we banded together to protect our home and way of life. That’s what Americans do. Polarization can be negative, but it also shows passion and participation. When we tap into that and find common ground, we echo the founding of our country.
America declared independence, not from each other, but from tyrannical governments. There is no foil to power-hungry governments without community. In fact, we lose independence when we disconnect from each other. The American way has always been one of action and ambition, and the combined sense of individualism and brotherhood makes it uniquely powerful.
Rebel Pride
Recently, I was at a conference with many international attendees. Everyone discussed what we should do during our afternoon off, and the shooting range was the top choice of the non-Americans. But it wasn’t mine. I own a firearm, have enough places to shoot without going to a range, and wasn’t looking to spend a lot of money.
Yet this contrast was striking. Their rare opportunity was my weekend activity. But beyond the sport of shooting, this situation showed the lack of vital protection belonging to internationals.
How often I take the security and safety the Second Amendment affords me for granted, even when I am not personally exercising my right. There is a deep confidence and safety in knowing there is protection from criminals and lunatics, whether you are out in public with people who carry firearms or dwell in a well-guarded home.
Yet at the heart of the Second Amendment is an even deeper protection from Big Brother.
The writers of the Constitution were realistic, understanding that man is capable of great good and great evil, and that a constitution must take both into account. Our rights to pursue life, liberty, property, and happiness mirror the great good we can achieve if we shoulder the responsibility that accompanies those rights.
Our right to bear arms reflects the other side of humanity. The founding fathers had the wisdom to see that no matter the strength of the Constitution, governments grow more ravenous with time. The Second Amendment is the last bastion against tyranny. I cannot help but be proud that the founders who held power chose to keep it in the hands of the people.
Home of the Brave
Two years ago, my friend and I road-tripped across the country, taking a southern route to California. They say traveling gives you a new perspective, and with a nation the size of America, you don’t need to leave the country for one.
Lush, overgrown trees thinned away into brown, dusty prairies. Mountains emerged and green returned with creosotes and mesquite until it disappeared into desert, filled with cacti. Red turned brown and suddenly there were palm trees and sandy beaches. And these landscapes don’t even exhaust all the environments America offers. That trip didn’t include the majestic mountains of the North, the Redwoods, the Great Lakes, eastern bays, or bayous.
The uniqueness of our people is integrally tied to the land. Our country is vast, beautiful, and extraordinary because of those who settled it. The difficult, even seemingly impossible ways of life they faced were always met with persistence and hope. Colonists, pioneers, frontiersmen, and farmers headed into the unknown for each chapter of our history, to stake land and make a home for themselves.
Their desire for a happy, humble life fueled the courage to take risks and face countless dangers. It bred a people of adventure, noble pursuit, opportunity, and discovery. Americans were and are go-getters. The magnanimity of their spirit founded one of the greatest countries in the world and still burns alive today.
Our country may be far from perfect, but politics isn’t patriotism. The loving pride I have for America is determined not by our pundits and politicians, but by our people. Ancestors who paved the way and sacrificed for the good I have today; fellow countrymen who fight the good fight; my family, friends, and neighbors who make up a community that defends our home.
When we stop loving America, we’ll stop fighting for it. There is so much worth celebrating this year, whether it's our history, or the Constitution which still protects us today. And I thank God that I was born in the USA.
Anna Barren holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Christendom College and has been published in The Epoch Times, The Federalist, and the Smoky Mountain News.
This culture article was made possible by The Fred & Rheta Skelton Center for Cultural Renewal, a project of 1819 News. To comment on this article, please email [email protected]. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News.
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