Why I Love My Country-Part 2: Land of Opportunity and Freedom

   As humans, having 'stuff' is important to us. I admit to being this way; my guitar is very important to me. This isn't necessarily a bad thing; at least, not on the offset, anyway. If you are obsessed with your stuff, then maybe it's time to spend some more time caring about people. To have stuff, though, you need money, right? And, unless you just inherited a bunch of money from your Great-Uncle Chester and Great-Aunt Bessie, you have to work in order to have money. Now, in a third-world country, jobs and, by extension, money are hard to come by. But in America, even with our 'end-of-the-world' unemployment rate, there are jobs out there for everyone. They just may not always be easy to find. So, we are much more lucky than a lot of other countries out there. That's definitely something to be grateful for.

   America is the Land of Opportunity. It's the land of HD-flat-screen TV's, which I have nothing against. It's the land of drive-through and fast-food. It's the land of iPods, iPhones, and Ikeas. In America, very few things are in short supply. I'm hard-pressed to think of any. The rich get richer, and if the poor are smart, they get richer too. This doesn't necessarily mean that life is rosy for everyone, but for the most part, it is. America. It's the land of a strong military; life with which I've experienced firsthand. It's the land of Wal-mart and Target. It's the Land of Opportunity.

   You have to realize that opportunity goes beyond having physical stuff. It goes beyond having a job. There is one big thing, as Americans, that we have. This thing should be our most prized possession. You may be thinking freedom, and if you are, you are indeed correct. Our Freedom is our most valuable component. It makes America what it is. The United States wouldn't be half of what it is without our freedom. Our religious, our political, our personal freedom. It's certainly something we take for granted, maybe not all the time, but every once in a while for sure. I am honestly bursting with pride as I write this. I just keep thinking how I would be a totally different person, living in a totally different country if, all those years ago, the Founding Fathers did not set this country atop Freedom's Hill. The countries which share this beautiful hilltop town with us number few, and none shine so brightly as we do. Of course, there is a downfall to shining brightly, as it attracts attention, but not all attention is bad. May we shine so brightly for much, much longer.

   In the Land of Opportunity, I can thrive. I am able to grow as I should, without unnecessary restraint, without unnecessary regulation. Instead, I roam freely, not hindered by monarchies or Communist regimes. I am protected by the Stars and Stripes, along with Her appointed leadership. Sometimes, to protect Freedom, there must be war, but She never seeks it. Today, I am safe; tomorrow, I will be safe. I am grateful for what I have been given, and I hope to one day pay Her back. Just recognizing all that she has done for me is a step in that direction. May America stay strong and continue to enjoy the Freedom it has worked so hard to protect and defend.

~Ian James~