In the process of justifying
what’s happening to Crimea, President Putin, from the Russian Federation, has
complained about something called American Exceptional-ism. Generally, I don’t think we Americans think
about ourselves as being exceptional.
Instead, most of us in our day to day lives just go about getting the
job done. Like most people in the world
we want to take care of our families, and find happiness in what we do with our
lives. Perhaps, we could point to our
democracy and the foundational right to vote.
Then, if anything is
exceptional, it would be the spirit of freedom and liberty that was given to us
in the beginning by our founding fathers and mothers. If we are guilty of anything, it is only that
we wish others around the globe might enjoy the same blessings that we
enjoy. We might also be guilty of our conviction
that everyone has the right to rise to their own potential without restraint
and restriction other than the limits of their own efforts and desires.
Here’s one expression of our American
conviction. Enjoy!
MY CREED ...by Dean Alfange (Flying "W"
Ranch)
“I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon. I seek opportunity to develop whatever talents God gave me, not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any earthly master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say-----This , with God's help, I have done."
All this is what it means to be an American.
“I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon. I seek opportunity to develop whatever talents God gave me, not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any earthly master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say-----This , with God's help, I have done."
All this is what it means to be an American.
Mr.
Putin, you should give this a try. You
might even find some success.
. . . remember that America’s best days aren’t
behind her. America’s best days are ahead of her. They always
have been and always will be.
Dave
Copyright © 2014 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.
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