Why I Love America
The Declaration of Independence was written in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Home of brotherly love. The name "Philadelphia" goes all the way back to Jewish and Biblical times. Philao (sp?) is Greek for "brotherly love." I'm not quite sure about "delphia," but I believe it may mean "city."
Jesus used the word philao to refer to His disciples. The men who wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were well educated and understood it's meaning. Is it not quite symbolic that this is the birth place of our city upon the hill?
These were men who had great vision, yet they were merely men. Yes, there were mistakes made. Even sins. Those mistakes were made so that everyone would agree to sign the Constitution. The people who hated slavery compromised, knowing that there would come a day of reckoning. I doubt if they could have imagined how devasting it would be. Does that discount every word, act, or deed that occured until that time or after? I do not believe it does.
If you are going to hold us accountable today for actions that I did not participate in, then would you please tell me why you are still on my land? I am Mohawk Indian and Armenian. I would be wholely Mohawk had you not arrived. I made a decision long ago not to hold it against you. I love my father who was Armenian. First of all, though, he was an American.
Which brings me to this point: I love America because it is the best country in the world. Put our economic system against anyone else's. They don't come close. What about our civil rights? Most countries don't even know what they are, let alone have any. What other country tries to correct it's wrongs? Allows it's people to question the government? None.
Oh, you could probably name me a few that have this or that, but they don't have the whole package. Now I would like to share my other reasons. Money is not everything, at least certainly not to me.
As Americans, we are a generous people. Why? Why do we care so much about others? It is because God has said,
Everyone in the USA is special in this way. No amount of money can buy who we are as a people. We are not as divided as the polititians would like to paint the picture. We can see this after every tragedy, big or small. No matter what race, whether you're rich or poor, fat or skinny, accent or no, we all come together because THAT is who we are. That is what sets us apart.
We are not selfish. The world says those things in the hopes that we will give more, and we do. Not to prove them wrong, but because that is who we are. We are a kind, generous, forgiving, merciful people. We believe in Justice for everyone, including the victims. We believe in doing things on our own without the longarm of the government interferring. We believe in right and wrong, and we know the difference. Yes, we are unique.
We started out through a revolution, and we continue to be revolutionary. We do not settle for what people tell us to do. We do not settle for tyranny. We do not settle for the wrong we see. Yes, we are revolutionists, and I am proud that we are.
Beyond all this, America is the most beautiful place in the world. You can go swimming in the daytime and skiing at night in Colorado. You can drive for miles and never see another person through Texas. The prairies, the majestic mountains, the large and small lakes, the trees of every order, the flowers from every design, the animals, the fish, the birds, and the people.
It is all beautiful and glorious to me, even with it's downsides. It is precious. It is the land of the free and the home of the brave. This is why I love America.
Jesus used the word philao to refer to His disciples. The men who wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were well educated and understood it's meaning. Is it not quite symbolic that this is the birth place of our city upon the hill?
These were men who had great vision, yet they were merely men. Yes, there were mistakes made. Even sins. Those mistakes were made so that everyone would agree to sign the Constitution. The people who hated slavery compromised, knowing that there would come a day of reckoning. I doubt if they could have imagined how devasting it would be. Does that discount every word, act, or deed that occured until that time or after? I do not believe it does.
If you are going to hold us accountable today for actions that I did not participate in, then would you please tell me why you are still on my land? I am Mohawk Indian and Armenian. I would be wholely Mohawk had you not arrived. I made a decision long ago not to hold it against you. I love my father who was Armenian. First of all, though, he was an American.
Which brings me to this point: I love America because it is the best country in the world. Put our economic system against anyone else's. They don't come close. What about our civil rights? Most countries don't even know what they are, let alone have any. What other country tries to correct it's wrongs? Allows it's people to question the government? None.
Oh, you could probably name me a few that have this or that, but they don't have the whole package. Now I would like to share my other reasons. Money is not everything, at least certainly not to me.
As Americans, we are a generous people. Why? Why do we care so much about others? It is because God has said,
"For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me."This is America. Even the atheists know this in their hearts. Oh, they may disagree about God, but they agree we should take care of one another.
Paraphrase: When did we do all of these things?
"'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me." Matthew 25:31-46
Everyone in the USA is special in this way. No amount of money can buy who we are as a people. We are not as divided as the polititians would like to paint the picture. We can see this after every tragedy, big or small. No matter what race, whether you're rich or poor, fat or skinny, accent or no, we all come together because THAT is who we are. That is what sets us apart.
We are not selfish. The world says those things in the hopes that we will give more, and we do. Not to prove them wrong, but because that is who we are. We are a kind, generous, forgiving, merciful people. We believe in Justice for everyone, including the victims. We believe in doing things on our own without the longarm of the government interferring. We believe in right and wrong, and we know the difference. Yes, we are unique.
We started out through a revolution, and we continue to be revolutionary. We do not settle for what people tell us to do. We do not settle for tyranny. We do not settle for the wrong we see. Yes, we are revolutionists, and I am proud that we are.
Beyond all this, America is the most beautiful place in the world. You can go swimming in the daytime and skiing at night in Colorado. You can drive for miles and never see another person through Texas. The prairies, the majestic mountains, the large and small lakes, the trees of every order, the flowers from every design, the animals, the fish, the birds, and the people.
It is all beautiful and glorious to me, even with it's downsides. It is precious. It is the land of the free and the home of the brave. This is why I love America.
posted by Rosemary Welch @ 6/11/2005 08:02:00 PM
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