As an American I'm very grateful for the many freedoms and opportunities available in our great country. The USA seems to pick up a lot of negative press in recent years for our politics, pollution, junk food, materialism and morals, but while there is room for improvement, there's a whole lot of good that happens here that rarely gets the attention it deserves.
We donate and volunteer more than anywhere else on the planet, for example. When I have traveled for work, I always appreciated that I could make one call to the local United Way and they would point me toward plentiful service opportunities that would make my experience in any city that much more meaningful, memorable and rewarding.
When I think back to the months I spent in Topeka, Kansas, for example, one of the most memorable evenings was helping two kids study at a Big Brother/Big Sister event. A ten year old boy really applied himself to his studies and I watched him soak in the fact that I recognized him for it. An eight year old girl tried to suppress a mischievous smile as she flirtingly threatened to stomp on my foot while telling me she knew what actor I looked like.
Do you remember being that age? Do you remember how important your adult friends were? I got the privilege of stepping into a community for a night, making a difference, and being appreciated for it, and it felt pretty good.
That's the sort of place our country is, that's the kind of people we are, and I believe it's because of our history, our values, and our economic strength that creates enough leisure time to comfortably think about others.
While working in Eugene, Oregon, I once ordered a pumpkin pie from the McDonalds next to my hotel. "You know what goes really well with that?" the server asked. "Ice cream." It wasn't a suggestion that I order more food. He turned around and filled a sundae container with soft serve vanilla and set it on my tray. I'm not sure what his boss would have thought, but I was impressed!
Leaving the mall one evening, a homeless teenager asked if I could spare a quarter. I gave him one, then took the rest of my change and spread it across the counter of a Taco Bell in the parking lot. "What's the most food I can get for this?" I asked.
When I explained that I wanted to take some food to the teenager, his little brother and other homeless kids hanging out there, he emptied the change from his own pocket and added it to the pile. Then he walked around and collected change from his coworkers and we filled a bag with tacos and burritos.
"Do you know Jesus?" he asked, leaning a little over the counter with a conspiratorial tone. When I nodded and said I did, he surprised me again by saying "You're the third person today!"
A lot of vocal people don't like religion these days, though it's still one of the greatest forces for good determining who we are and how we live. A lot of people, both domestically and abroad, blame Americans for whatever misery they suffer, as if every individual citizen is responsible for the war in Iraq, the price of oil, and all other evils.
The truth is that most Americans are generous, compassionate, and willing to do something about it. We have our share of faults, weaknesses, foolishness and problems, but until any other country can match our contributions, I don't believe they have any room to complain.
So as we celebrate the birth of our nation, the sacrifice of those early soldiers, and the wisdom and audacity to experiment with democracy, also remember to celebrate where it has led us and who we are today.
This is YOUR country! America is only great because you are great, and you deserve to be pleased and proud of what we have accomplished and all we continue to do.
We donate and volunteer more than anywhere else on the planet, for example. When I have traveled for work, I always appreciated that I could make one call to the local United Way and they would point me toward plentiful service opportunities that would make my experience in any city that much more meaningful, memorable and rewarding.
When I think back to the months I spent in Topeka, Kansas, for example, one of the most memorable evenings was helping two kids study at a Big Brother/Big Sister event. A ten year old boy really applied himself to his studies and I watched him soak in the fact that I recognized him for it. An eight year old girl tried to suppress a mischievous smile as she flirtingly threatened to stomp on my foot while telling me she knew what actor I looked like.
Do you remember being that age? Do you remember how important your adult friends were? I got the privilege of stepping into a community for a night, making a difference, and being appreciated for it, and it felt pretty good.
That's the sort of place our country is, that's the kind of people we are, and I believe it's because of our history, our values, and our economic strength that creates enough leisure time to comfortably think about others.
While working in Eugene, Oregon, I once ordered a pumpkin pie from the McDonalds next to my hotel. "You know what goes really well with that?" the server asked. "Ice cream." It wasn't a suggestion that I order more food. He turned around and filled a sundae container with soft serve vanilla and set it on my tray. I'm not sure what his boss would have thought, but I was impressed!
Leaving the mall one evening, a homeless teenager asked if I could spare a quarter. I gave him one, then took the rest of my change and spread it across the counter of a Taco Bell in the parking lot. "What's the most food I can get for this?" I asked.
When I explained that I wanted to take some food to the teenager, his little brother and other homeless kids hanging out there, he emptied the change from his own pocket and added it to the pile. Then he walked around and collected change from his coworkers and we filled a bag with tacos and burritos.
"Do you know Jesus?" he asked, leaning a little over the counter with a conspiratorial tone. When I nodded and said I did, he surprised me again by saying "You're the third person today!"
A lot of vocal people don't like religion these days, though it's still one of the greatest forces for good determining who we are and how we live. A lot of people, both domestically and abroad, blame Americans for whatever misery they suffer, as if every individual citizen is responsible for the war in Iraq, the price of oil, and all other evils.
The truth is that most Americans are generous, compassionate, and willing to do something about it. We have our share of faults, weaknesses, foolishness and problems, but until any other country can match our contributions, I don't believe they have any room to complain.
So as we celebrate the birth of our nation, the sacrifice of those early soldiers, and the wisdom and audacity to experiment with democracy, also remember to celebrate where it has led us and who we are today.
This is YOUR country! America is only great because you are great, and you deserve to be pleased and proud of what we have accomplished and all we continue to do.