Raising the American Spirit

Raising the American Spirit

When a child is born, he or she is solely dependent upon caretakers. New parents embark on a journey of a 24-hour cycle of care, love, and devotion. Midnight feedings, diaper changing, and keeping the necessary supplies at arms' length require the parents' undivided attention. This involves making appropriate lists, taking trips to the store, and knowing just what to buy. And a parent survives on less sleep, adopts a new schedule, and budgets accordingly.

As the child grows, the journey changes, and a parent adapts. No longer does it require midnight feedings, but choices and guidelines, such as tap lessons verses piano lessons, soccer verses football, and an agreement between a mother and a father on how to raise the child. These decisions necessitate order, priority, and time, but still include the original love and devotion at the basis of the parent-to-child relationship.

And yet, despite all the love and care provided to that child, if you ask a child, "How are you?" their reply won't recognize all that attention, protection, and support they have received throughout the years. Typically you'll receive a response centered on what's going on that day, what they did in recess, or how excited they are for a birthday party that weekend.

A quick look back in our relatively short history lends insight to the similarities of a growing young child to the emergence of the United States of America. What began as an idea became our nation. And like a child, it did not come without pain and suffering. It did not launch without a clash between the old order and the new, vast rises and hard-felt falls, or military rebellion. It required not only planning, resources, and people, but also the devotion of individuals working for this idea that we call democracy.

In 1761, individuals and families living in America made up a generally loyal British society, though other settlers also included Irish, Dutch, Swedes, Africans, French, Germans, and others. After a decade of continual trials and tribulations of the colonists defending their rights, military conflict ensued, and eventually led to separation from the motherland. This idea was growing, but needed support and ingenuity to bring it to life. The revolutionaries of that time endured civil strife, performed heroic acts, and gave their lives to creating what we cherish as the ‘American Spirit'.

Democracy, as a child, also required planning and presented struggles. Our founding fathers were there in the infancy and many great individuals have continued to ‘parent' our nation as it grows. Just as a mother and father, these great leaders attempted to strike a balance of inspiration, hard work, discipline, and freedom. As our country has gone from tyranny to freedom, struggled through the Civil War to the Great Depression, and from World War II to the tragedy of September 11, intertwined in those struggles were great moments of triumph and celebration.

Today, what was once an infant idea now stands full-grown. This idea guards and protects us from enemies and looks to the future. It lives in our teachers, pastors, firemen, and policemen; it is embodied in the members of the armed services. We see it in our city streets, as American flags wave proudly on the houses of our neighbors. We smell it in the barbeque as it cooks in celebration of our Independence, and we hear the voice of freedom in our churches every Sunday.

Like children, however, it is rare that we reflect upon the attention, protection, and support that living in America provides us. When we're asked "How are you?" our minds naturally turn to the daily joys and struggles of our lives. Our Independence Day, however, affords us a time to really reflect on the gifts given to us as Americans.

This 4th of July, as you watch the fireworks burst into the sky, take your children to play at the beach, or gather with your neighbors, recognize the opportunity to really take a moment and reflect upon our journey from federalist infanthood to the flourishing sons and daughters of freedom. How grateful we are to live here, to live now, and to call the great Americans of our past our founding fathers! How grateful we are to have been raised in the ‘American Spirit!'

http://www.house.gov/forbes/newsroom/editorials/2006/06302006.htm