“The America I Believe In”
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of “America”? I think about baseball, apple pie, and the colors red, white, and blue. However, these items do not make America the great country it is today. If it weren’t for our founding fathers and the brave patriots who fought in the Revolutionary War, America would not exist. The foundation of the America I believe in was built upon many ideals, but I feel that freedom, democracy, and opportunity are the most important.
The first ideal America stands for is freedom. According to the Oxford Dictionary, freedom means, “The power to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.” The Constitution, together with the Bill of Rights and its other amendments, guarantees all Americans many priceless freedoms and rights, such as freedom of speech and religion as well as the right to bear arms and receive a fair trial. Quite often Americans take freedom for granted, many don’t realize that life is much different in other countries.
The second ideal that makes America so special is our democratic government. Democracy originated from two Greek words, “Demos” meaning the people and “Kratia” meaning power or authority. Democracy is based on rule of law and it can only work if a country’s citizens participate and become involved. Democracy was explained perfectly in the Gettysburg Address when Abraham Lincoln said, “This nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
The last ideal that makes America amazing is opportunity. America is the land of self-advancement, free enterprise, and capitalism. Every citizen has the opportunity to fulfill their American dream, but it takes hard work, perseverance, and determination. According to Ronald Reagan, America is, “A place in the divine scheme that was set aside as a promise land.”...