A NATURALIZED AMERICAN LOOKS AT AMERICA'S BEGINNINGS AND REFLECTS ON HIS ADOPTED COUNTRY
By Jeremy Reynalds (07/02/05)
Some people are positively patriotic about bashing the United States. Even after the terrible events of 9/11, in some circles America bashing is still the "cool" thing to do.
However, on the upcoming July 4 Independence Day holiday, I nonetheless suspect that these America haters will nonetheless be taking the day off and joining in celebrations along with the rest of us. I just wonder what they'll be celebrating, as they don't appear to hold dear any of the principles on which America was founded.
Think about it for a moment. The Pilgrims's intent in coming to the New World was to escape the religious oppression which they suffered in England. Then about 140 years later, the American Colonies emerged out of the Pilgrims' brave attempt to find religious freedom. Not surprisingly, there were some issues with the Pilgrims' former homeland which led to another problem.
As the AOL World Book Encyclopedia puts it, "Tension had been building between the United Kingdom and the American Colonies for more than 10 years before the Revolutionary War began. Starting in the mid-1760's, the British government passed a series of laws to increase its control over the colonies. Americans had grown used to a large measure of self-government. They strongly resisted the new laws, especially tax laws. Fierce debate developed over the British Parliament's right to tax the colonies without their consent."
Religious freedom and fair taxation. Two bulwarks upon which our nation was founded, and two concepts that liberals and America haters just can't stand. However, many of our forefathers died fighting to preserve these liberties. And (indirectly at least) the Revolutionary War sprung out of protests over these taxes.
Again, according to the AOL World Book Encyclopedia the British government got more than a little upset over what it considered to be the disobedience of the British colonies in relationship to the news laws, and in 1775 declared Massachusetts, where much of the protest had taken place, to be in rebellion. As a result, British troops based in Boston retaliated against the "rebels," resulting in the Revolutionary War.
"The American Colonies were unprepared for war. They lacked a central government, an army, and a navy. Delegates from the colonies formed the Continental Congress, which took on the duties of a national government (and directed the war), (appointing) George Washington ... commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. On July 4, 1776, the Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, in which the colonies declared their freedom from British rule," stated to the World Book Encyclopedia..
Nobody had taken this move lightly. On June 1, 1774, as the Colonies were considering whether or not to break their ties with England, (according to Catherine Millard in her book titled, "The Rewriting of America's History,") George Washington had written in his diary, "Went to church and fasted all day."
On July 4, 1775 in his General Orders from the Headquarters at Cambridge, he had written, (as related in the book by William Federer, "America's God and Country,") "The General most earnestly requires and expects a due observance of those articles of war established for the government of the Army which forbid profane cursing, swearing and drunkenness. And in like manner he requires and expects of all officers and soldiers not engaged in actual duty, a punctual attendance of Divine services, to implore the blessing of Heaven upon the means used for our safety and defense."
Moving on a number of centuries, in mid-1978 I followed the example of the pilgrims and emigrated from my native country of Britain at what I felt was the direction of the Lord and came to America.
REFLECTIONS ON MY NEW HOMELAND
In the ensuing decades, I was blessed beyond measure. But something was missing. During that time, I was still a British citizen, yet living my life as a resident alien in what I consider to be the greatest country in the world.
There was no reason for me not to become an American citizen. My heart lies in America. And until I became an American citizen, I couldn't fulfil one of my greatest dreams: to vote; get more actively involved with conservative American politics and make a difference.
Finally in late 1998 after studying up on American history for the required test (and passing), I took the oath of American citizenship and cast my first vote a few months later. I am so proud to now be able to talk about America as being "MY country." God willing, I will never miss an election in which I am eligible to vote. I count it as a wonderful privilege.
Unlike some, I have nothing bad at all to say about America and the wonderful God-given foundations on which it was built. I appreciate it to the very core of my being and am so proud to be a part of this wonderful country. To be sure it has some problems, but my prayer is that my writing and even my vote (and your vote as well) will perhaps make a small difference in helping solve those issues. Don't give up on America!
To those of you who are tempted to write America off, and make a side career of spewing vitriolic hatred about our wonderful land, I encourage you to consider living elsewhere. Of course, it's only in America and a small number of other countries that we have the freedom to be so vocal in our criticism of the authorities. Most other countries don't allow that.
Think about some countries you could move to if you can't stand America. There's Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, even Cuba or Russia. What an overwhelming number of positive choices you have! (Of course, Russia didn't want the infamous atheist Madlyn Murray O' Hair when she tried some years ago to emigrate!)
And July 4 might be a good day for you to travel, as you really have nothing to celebrate here, do you?
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