Why I am Proud to Be an American

I was going to write something for the 4th of July, but this post from 2007 pretty much sums it up, so I’m going to re-post it instead. I hope everyone has a great weekend! Here it is:

I got an e-mail this morning asking “Why are you Proud to be an American?”  For some reason, that caught my attention. I am really looking forward to the 4th of July because it’s a day I can spend with my family, But I realize that I haven’t put much thought into why I have the day off. So, here is why I am proud to be an American…

I am proud to be an American because I wake each day knowing that who I become, is entirely up to me. Dreams do come true in America. We have freedom. With a vision, hard work and passion – anything is possible. 

 I am proud to be an American because I am granted the freedom to openly express my personal beliefs and opinions. If they differ from my neighbor’s, that’s okay, because it’s the culmination of these differences combined with respect that make our nation great. 

I am proud to be an American because we are a country willing to defend human rights and independence both inside our own nation and throughout the world.  We may not agree on the how’s and the why’s, but I am so thankful for our young men and women of many generations that have fought and continure to fight to protect our nations’ independence and to prevent human suffering around the world. 

I am proud to be an American because as a nation, we care. We have heroes big and small; everyday there are random acts of kindness that we will never know about. We care about our neighbors, we care about strangers. We care about the world. We are diverse people of many different cultures and varying backgrounds, yet united, we make up this often crazy and mostly wonderful country called America. It doesn’t get any better than that and that is what makes me proud to be an American.  

Thank you to the men and woman who have and are serving our country. Men and woman whom ultimately ensure that we have privileges we so often take for granted. Thank You.