Coming of Age in America

This post is dedicated to the memory of Senator Jesse Helms who died today, July 4th; the same date on which two of the founders of our nation died.  RIP, Mr. Helms.

“Compromise, hell! That’s what has happened to us all down the line – and that’s the very cause of our woes. If freedom is right and tyranny is wrong, why should those who believe in freedom treat it as if it were a roll of bologna to be bartered a slice at a time?” – Jesse Helms, 1959  

There’s a wonderful poem by Henry VanDyke that goes like this:

Tis fine to see the old world, and travel up and down
Among the famous palaces and cities of renown,
To admire the crumbly castles and the statues of the kings,
But now I think I’ve had enough of antiquated things.
So it’s home again and home again, America for me!
My heart is turning home again, and there I long to be,
In the land of youth and freedom beyond the ocean bars,
Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.

I never appreciated the poem more than when I returned to the United States after living in Europe for several years. I literally wanted to bend down and kiss the sweet Carolina soil when I emerged from that long plane ride. I very nearly did so, too, but propriety kept me from impetuousness. 

It wasn’t that I hated living overseas. As the poem says, there are picturesque villages and captivating mountains and stores with interesting objects in them. People there have charming customs. The food is delicious. Hey, in Germany you can actually take your dog with you into restaurants! In Greece, there are those wonderful statues everywhere of Greek men! 

But America is the land of freedom and opportunity and second chances. Ours are the most generous people in the world. (And yes, statistics prove it every year with boring regularity).  We’re known all over the globe for our warm smiles and hospitality.  We have so much to give and we like sharing it with others. So why do some people think America is a land of hate and denigration? 

That’s an interesting question. When I was a teenager, I had an argument with my father over my desire to live in Sweden because, I said, it was a more ‘tolerant’ country.  He was disgusted when I told him that I didn’t see what was so wrong with Socialism and Communism. He, a man who spent all night in the shark-inifested waters of the Coral Sea when his ship was sunk by Japanese during WWII. He, who lived the real-life story of The Sand Pebbles, rescuing missionaries in Communist China. I’m ashamed now of my disregard for his service and patriotism. But I’m older now, and I have seen the power of sacrifice for God and country. Back then, I was a selfish, ignorant little jerk who thought the world should revolve around her. 

Others made sacrifices for our country, too. Did you think the signers of our Declaration of Independence from England just walked away from the deal without a scratch? Historical documents prove otherwise. In signing the declaration, they were committing treason against the king of England and knew that he would retaliate. Most of them had a lot to lose. They had families, property, businesses; but as one delegate from Rhode Island said when he signed the document, “my hand trembles, but my heart does not.” 

We are a young country, but for over 200 years men and women have died for something greater than themselves. They died for freedom. Because of them, we don’t live under the tyranny of another nation. Each of us has been fortunate enough to be born into a country that is filled with promise, where each person can decide his or her own destiny. Young, immature girls of 15 who live pleasant lives in modern homes may not understand that gift, but millions of people all over the world understand it and grasp for it and die crossing oceans on overcrowded boats to get it. 

When I was young, I thought men who smoked reefer and flashed peace signs and talked about “going back to the farm” were cool. Nowadays, my heros are men who don’t make excuses but go out and work to support themselves; men who freely enter the military and who serve uncomplainingly in hostile countries to keep the bad guys from coming over here; men who look into the future and make hard, unpopular choices for the good of our country; men, real men who have dreams and work hard to bring those dreams to fruition. They don’t depend on anyone else to do things for them – they shoulder their tasks and do what needs to be done. Men like these made our country a great and prosperous nation. God willing, there will be more generations of men and women who take seriously the personal sacrifices of those who went before them, and they will carry the torch of freedom into the future. 

Oh, it’s nice to see the old world all right. I still like to travel, but I’m under no silly illusions about government being the best arbiter of what’s good for me. We are an imperfect nation only because we are imperfect people. But there is still no other place as wonderful on earth as the land of the free and the home of the brave.  Fly the American flag high today, and be proud of what our country stands for.  We are a beacon of light and freedom for all the world.  May that freedom never die and that light never be extinguished.