FELLOW
TRAVELER |
Quintessentially
American
by Shawn
Black [pundit]
7/4/06 |
The
world has called it the great American Experiment. As a result,
Americans
of all nationalities and cultures cherish our traditions today as distinctively
American. These traditions and American icons, cement an experiment that
has transformed and shaped not only America, but the world.
As a result
of our grand endeavor of Freedom; America continues to embrace
our ability to reach out to the world proclaiming hope, freedom
and a better life lived through opportunity.
Contributor
Shawn Black
Shawn
Black is a Military Veteran with the 82nd Airborne
Division and Former Federal Agent with the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security. He is a Republican
speaker, supporter and consultant. He recently returned from Service in Iraq
and is founder of www.projectprayerflag.org .
[go to Black index] |
When our founding Fathers established the Constitution,
they conferred that government and man; were susceptible to corruption
and the trappings of power. They framed certain checks and balances
within the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive bodies of our
fledgling Government. They struck the correct balance and ever
since, Americans have learned much from both our failures as
well as our victories.
It was President
Theodore Roosevelt who said, “ Far better
is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though
checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits
who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray
twilight that knows not victory nor defeat”.
As our American
Experiment unfolded over time, we have seen that freedom has
fostered great ideas and ambitions. It has been
freedom that inspires us to dream big dreams, and that in America;
with a little hard work, anything is possible. Our dreams, celebrated
with our inventions, have forever changed the world.
We could never forget the Wright Brothers, who soared against
early disappointments and triumphed with victory at Kitty Hawk.
Millions
of Americans watched with marvel, as Thomas Edison set the
world aglow,
with the light bulb. And how can we forget
a child’s wonder and America’s romance with the locomotives
that began a transportation revolution and fueled a hungry nation.
And the world held their breath together, as Neil Armstrong
encouraged us to
“Take one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
From helicopters
to heart surgery, steamboats to submarines, medicines to machines,
Americans have lived their lives with
the freedom that has inspired mankind’s greatest discoveries.
It was Independence that ignited their imagination and today
has lit the world.
Those who fought to establish our American foundations took
harrowing risks and great leaps of faith. When we truly reflect
on our heroes and our flag, they remind us of our battles, the
current risks and the ultimate sacrifice for this Nation. The
sight and sound of our flag solemnly stirs our attention to those
who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms.
We are reminded
that our soldiers could never complete their mission of hope,
apart
from those supporting them at home. The
fruits of freedom have shown our love and dedication through
America’s family of community volunteers. We salute the
years of dedicated service from those with the U.S.O., American
Legion and a grateful Nation embraces our American Gold Star
families.
As we all
celebrate the birth of our nation’s Independence,
we tend to wax a little nostalgic. And we make no apologies for
that .The icons of our Independence are inspiring, majestic and
forever enduring. They inspire hope to a thirsty world longing
for fulfillment and opportunity.
They are quintessentially American.
We look no further than the inspiring hope of The Statue of
Liberty, beckoning the world with the Light of Liberty. She calls
us to remembrance that ours is a nation that has risen to the
calling, the high hopes that liberty gives to all who call for
her.
We cling with joy the memories of hotdogs at the ballpark, the
box of crackerjacks, lemonade stands and the timeless art of
American baseball. And I could never forget the sight, smell,
and snap of a leather glove that catches a baseball my son has
thrown me. It reminds me that America is my field of Dreams.
And how many of us remember the simple pleasure of a Hershey
bar, sipping an ice-cold Coca Cola and relishing the Thanksgiving
dinner with family gathered together.
And it’s all rather perfect isn’t
it?
Those traditions continue to rekindle the memory of who we are.
And the glorious sight of red, white and blue flags flown from
the front porch, beckon our hearts to remember simpler times.
They call for us to remember where we came from, and where we
are going.
With independence as our nation's compass; we will always look
appropriately towards the sky as our future, and proclaim the
truth that our flag is still there. And they proclaim to us
that man and nation are inspired when hope is nurtured in Freedom
and fostered in Independence. CRO
copyright
2006 by Shawn Black
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The America Show
