An Ideal American

An Ideal American

“Freedom is what America means to the world.” - Audie Murphy. America is an extremely outstanding country, and the people that live in it have many responsibilities and privileges that make them an American. An ideal American should have great and noble qualities with loyalty and patriotism only being two.

One’s loyalty to his country is not something that can be taught. Loyalty for one’s country is best explained in this quote by Thomas Wolfe: “The fabulous country-the place where miracles not only happen, but where they happen all the time.” For him to say this statement with such confidence signifies that he held his country at extremely high regards, and should be an example for us all. “Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective.”-Martin Luther King Jr.

Franklin D. Roosevelt explained the freedom of America best when he simply stated, “The winds that blow through the wide sky in these mountains, the winds that sweep from Canada to Mexico, from the Pacific to the Atlantic-have always blown on free men.” Patriotism does not mean you always agree with the decisions or the choices your government makes. In the words of Alexander Solzhenitsyn, “Patriotism means unqualified and unwavering love for the nation.” Patriotism is thinking that your country is the best place to live, through the good times and the bad.

America is and will continue to be the best place to live. With her freedom and beauty she offers many opportunities and experiences that one would not find in any other place. Anyone that has the privilege to live here is responsible for doing his part to keep this county great!