Happy Birthday, Uncle Sam

Happy Birthday, Uncle Sam

There are many reasons I'm thankful for living in America. Among these are certainly the obvious:

• Freedom of opportunity for everyone. (Did you know that George Taylor, a Signer of the Declaration of Independence came to the Colonies as an Indentured Servant.)

• Freedom of personal expression through the 1st Amendment of the Bill of Rights. (When the opportunity for self-expression is unrestrained through governmental oppression, those souls redeemed by hope can shine light in the darkness of despair. This is opportune spark for cultural revival.)

• Freedom of political participation. (Even during our most contentious elections, the public is unrestrained in advocating, neighbor to neighbor, for issues and candidates of conviction.)

On this last point, compare the following 3 examples:

1. In the Presidential Election of 2000, an incredibly hard fought, closely contentious contest resulted in a court escalation, exactly as prescribed in our system, and a smooth, non-violent ascendancy to power.

2. Also in the year 2000 election cycle, John Ashcroft, running for Senate against the sentimental memories of a beloved Governor and facing widely accepted allegations of fraud, opted to concede defeat rather than pursue likely successful litigious grasp at power for power's sake - an example stemming from George Washington's voluntary acquiescence of power at a time when peers were making arguments for the stability of his presence in power.

3. Now compare these examples, on the week of our National Birthday, to this example from Nigeria: "The price of machetes has halved in parts of Nigeria since the end of general elections in April because demand from thugs sponsored by politicians has subsided, the state-owned News Agency of Nigeria reported."

Those who know me well, know that there are myriad, discrete aspects of our country that I find sadly disappointing. But my travels have also taught me that I'm thankful for a system of government and culture that are built upon some sort of foundation of traditional Judeo-Christian ethics. A journey into much of the world quickly illustrates the blessings of citizenship in this nation, as enumerated above. These are the blessings which tell each individual,

"Here's the open door of oportunity. If you have the gumption, walk through it. If someone tries to slam it, we have processes to deal with that. If you are facing obstacles which block your way, reach out to others in your community, history shows conclusively that enough will reach back to assist. But the choice is yours. Check your conscience, come to understand the purposes of your Creator, take your chances and pursue your hope."

On Principle,

Cbass