Americans have historically always been unique in the eyes of the world because we have always demanded better. Many places around the world have grown tired of change and have cemented themselves into their thousand year old traditions. Americans have never been like that. We have constantly demand better of ourselves and the technology around us. We changed the world on July 4, 1776 when we declared “…that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” And again on January 1, 1863 when we declared that all slaves were henceforth free people, simply because it was the right thing to do. And again in 1913 when Henry Ford created the first moving assembly line, simply because we wanted every American to have access to an affordable automobile. Stories like these litter our history.
The American way has always been to act small and dream big. We allow our big dreams to guide our small actions. We dream to heal the world, but very few people have the resources to do so single handedly. This is why it’s so important for everyone to come together, because that is when our individually small actions form real change.
Contrary to popular belief, this can happen without burning down the civilized world in order to be noticed. Just be good people, help your neighbor, educate yourself, and vote for your change. If you don’t like the choices then run for office yourself. The future of this country wasn’t always decided by 70 year old, career politicians. This country was designed by some of the greatest men to ever walk the Earth in order to allow it’s everyday citizens to be given the pathway to lead, govern, and make change when it is necessary to do so. If you want to make change, real effort is required, you can’t just block some roads or throw some bricks through windows. Be better.
This is what I see when I look at what America is and what it represents. I want to be clear that I don’t intend on making political statements with this platform that I have created. Today is the Fourth of July and I thought it just to explain what I see this country to be through my eyes. I hope everyone strives to be better people because that is what makes this country great, the relentless drive by its citizens to evolve and improve the world around them. Act small, dream big, and change the world.
