My America

Lovely Whatevers

Several 4th of July greetings have come to my family today. I was deeply touched by a couple of e-greetings from women who live in other countries. On particular one, from The Ukraine, where life is often more difficult and not as prosperous, sent merely an American flag flying in the wind. As I watched this moving picture I began to understand what America represents to people who living in oppression or without religous freedom.

from Lovely Whatevers

Another woman sent me a greeting that explained what some of her countrymen believe: that if American ceases to hold on to the values of marriage, home, family, free enterprise, worshipping God in spirit and in truth, it will effect other countries, as well. In many of his speeches, Ronald Reagan referred to America as a "city set on a hill," alluding to the great responsibility given by Christ to his followers in Matthew 5.




Another greeting said, "If you go under, we go under, too." It made me understand more how other people look at us and hope that we are good and that we still believe in things like honor and duty. When the first settlers came to America, they wanted the freedom to spread the gospel and to have their own families and homes and land, without interference from any totalitarian government. America is not America because it is named America and is on a certain continent. Besides being a country that is defined by borders and language, it is also a belief. Without that belief, it ceases to be America.


If you could watch a film called "A Man Without A Country," you would understand more clearly the dearness of such a place that is "one nation, under God." In his youth, this man uttered a hasty oath against his country. "I hate America," he said. As punishment, the judge ordered him to a lifetime spent at sea, and to never touch the shores of America, again. The captain of each ship was ordered not to allow this man to speak about his homeland or to say the words "United States of America" ever again. They warned all passengers not to discuss America around this man, at mealtimes, or any time.

Written in 1866, its purpose was to show what it would be like if people were punished for criticising their country, and bring about an appreciation for our freedom. Effectively, the story showed the folly of rash statements, even when angry, and helped people understand what life would be like without the blessings of this land.

As time went on, he began to understand the gift of home, family and country, and he missed it very much. He regretted his hasty denouncement, and he devised clever ways of finding out about progress in America. Since he was allowed to know nothing about America, the library books and newspapers all had the parts about the United States cut out of them. He figured out when a new state had been added to the union, by the shape of the missing piece of a page. He traced around it and formed his own map of the United States in his cabin. By this method, he even figured out who was the president every four years.

Throughout the story, this man reveals how once his soul was lacking in understanding, and how that bitter experience made him appreciate the country that God gave him. His cruel words in the beginning of his life, were softened by these words at the end of his life:

Breathes there a man, with soul so dead:

Who never to himself, hath said:

"This is my own, my native land!"

To read the free e-book, "A Man Without A Country," Go Here

and open up one of the zip files.

This is what the 4th of July means to me. It is not all partying and drinking and firecrackers. It is a belief, and throughout every generation, that belief is kept alive. Being rich in love, and good works, makes us a city set on a hill.