I want to live in America

"This land is the land it is due to many who have come before us. They paid for this land with blood, sweat and sometimes tears. But they knew it was worth it. The only caveat one of our more famous ancestors warned us about, was the fragility of this great Republic."

As the song goes from the musical West Side Story, "I want to live in America". Actually, to be precise, I want to live in the United States of America. Always have, always will. Many who have traveled internationally will tell you the same thing. It is nice to be away and see new things - but coming home to the good old US of A, is indeed something special. I have been offshore while serving in the Navy, on business travel, and on personal travel. Coming home to the United States was ALWAYS good. 

Our home country of the United States is indeed special. It is the great American Experiment, which has turned out pretty darned good. We are a land rich with opportunity and loaded with resources. We have drop dead beautiful landscapes to see, and miles and miles of open road in which to see them. I could blather on and on about how much I love this great country, but I will try and restrain myself a bit.

I have told this story before. I worked with a British gentleman when I was on a project north of London. Actually, it was in Nottingham, close to the Sherwood Forest. Anyhow, one day this gentleman and I were chatting about how beautiful his country of England was. He agreed, but replied, "You Yanks really have it good, however. I often times visit the states while on holiday, rent a car and just drive." Puzzled at this response, I asked where he would drive to. What he visited. He went on, "It does not matter where I drive. You just have so much land, and so much to see. In the UK, if you drive too far in any direction, you run into the sea. That is the problem with living on an island. In America, you can just drive and drive and drive."

He was right. In our great country, you can do things, be things and see things. The opportunities presented to all of us are unlimited. Why did we have 20 million people sneaking into our country the past four years and zero people trying to sneak out? For the opportunities. Living in these United States is the grand prize. Other places in the world are good, some very good. But the United States of America is great. It is exceptional. We are blessed beyond measure to live here.

This land is the land it is due to many who have come before us. They paid for this land with blood, sweat and sometimes tears. But they knew it was worth it. The only caveat one of our more famous ancestors warned us about, was the fragility of this great Republic. Ben Franklin said, "It is a Republic, if you can keep it." And that is our task. Each and every one of us. Don't take this country for granted. Don't put things on auto pilot. Each generation has the responsibility to guide and protect our country. To keep this Republic just as it is.

"America, America, God shed his grace on thee..." Oh, those words from America the Beautiful. Yes, God does shed His grace on us. Dare we never forget that. We are richly blessed to live here. Each day, every day, we are richly blessed to live here. Amen to that!