If there is one word which could be called synonymous with America, it is surely liberty. John Quincy Adams, in 1821, poignantly observed, “Let us not be unmindful that liberty is power. The nation blessed with the greatest portion of liberty must in proportion to its numbers be the most powerful nation on earth.” As we celebrate the Fourth of July, it is good and especially fitting to reflect upon the founding of this great nation; and to be deeply grateful to those who continue to vouchsafe the greatest attribute of our remarkable country – our liberty. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness: ideas, ideals, and revolutionary concepts that forged a new kind of country. A burning desire for liberty, sometimes referred to as “the sacred watchword of the American nation,” forged the absolute conviction that created something out of nothing. It was the seminal ideal which created the center-point around which limitless opportunity and the pursuit of happiness came to establish their orbit. The question has been posed, “Why love America?” There are probably as many insightful and compelling answers to that question as there are individuals. Because freedom of thought and expression is a fundamental part of America’s very foundation, and it has been woven into the fabric of daily life by purposeful design. This is part of America’s inheritance. We are the beneficiaries of the absolute, unwavering resolve in the hearts of her founders; the unspeakably brave sacrifices of her advancers and defenders; and the enduring steadfastness to an ideal realized. This is the glory, the timeless lesson, and priceless legacy of America. The lofty and earthy reality of this is why I love America. And why I believe we need to honor and defend her, with stout and steadfast hearts. As Robert Green Ingersoll has affirmed, “What light is to the eyes – what air is to the lungs – what love is to the heart, liberty is to the soul of man.”
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Linda Compton has a BA in Philosophy; a Masters degree in Gerontology; and a Master of Divinity degree. She was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1987. She has 30 years combined professional experience in multinational corporate management, non-profit leadership, the interfaith movement and philanthropy. Currently her passion is Internet marketing, mentoring, and coaching. You may contact her through www.wealthwithheart.net