My View of America Today

Given all that is happening with this 2016 presidential election cycle, I put my thoughts together on my view of America.

  

I do not agree that we have to make America great again. I will agree that this great experiment needs some nurturing and that we can do better.

As a military veteran, who comes from a long line of military veterans, I know it is a place worth defending because we live in a country that is the envy of many, given the freedom and opportunities that are available to everyone who lives here.

I know it is a place of hope as many thousands of  people still risk it all to come here. I know it is a place of beauty and grandeur as reflected not only in the American people but also in our natural resources, our spirits, our smiles and our willingness to help one another.

I know it is a place of dreams, where one can not only dream of a new future but actually attain it with support, dedication, drive, determination and desire.  The means and resources to take those dreams and make them into reality are available if one is willing to do the work, sacrifice and seek them out.

I know it is a place of wonder, awe and discovery, where everyone is encouraged to create a life of peace, harmony, and security for themselves and their families.

I know that it is a place of diversity, as the “melting pot” of the world, we have the most diverse population on the globe, which is one of our strengths because from diversity comes tolerance, acceptance, inclusion, strength and compassion.

Finally, I know it is a place of community and love, as we dedicate our lives to service to humanity.

As Americans, we know it is our responsibility to ensure that the ideals that helped birth this great nation are not only preserved here, but also shared with the world to assist with the growth and evolution of us as a species.

Some might say that I have a romantic and perhaps even unrealistic notion of what America is and to that I say, America is more than a country.  It is a promise of a better life.  It is an idea forged through courage, sacrifice and will.  And, while things in America are not perfect, it still is and will always be a beacon of light to the world, because of the people, their dreams, ideas, and the freedoms we enjoy.

May you be blessed always and in all ways!

Harry E. Shade