American

I am American.

Not so much an American, but AM American, to my very bones.

I do not know if in this world there has ever been a more immediately evocative word - certainly not in my lifetime.

America.

AMERICAN

There isn't a soul on this planet who doesn't have an image pop into his head the second they hear that word.

What they know might not be right, as so many have found to their utter delight these past few weeks. But they came knowing who we were, if not what.

And what WE Americans are is exceptional. Don't ever let anyone tell you differently.

Our very existence is a continued testament to our exceptionalism.

I don't know how other countries do it. They are proud of soccer teams, or hockey teams, or a seat at a conference somewhere. Do they feel pride in their country in their bones?

Europeans say you can always pick Americans out because they are too loud, laugh too much, are too boorish, and they have an unseemly natural swagger.

No one says we're unkind or unfriendly. But it seems that Americans, by their mere presence, just upset the natural order of things, even when they're in a crowd.

And it doesn't take the white socks and loud sport shirt with pocket protectors of old to pick an American out.

Is it a freedom aura?

I'd like to think so. 

I'd like to think that every American has within them the innate confidence that they are the equal of anyone on earth. That 'we bow to no one' radiates even from the sourest of our citizens.

Americans exude America.

That there is no country on Earth like ours.

This country has been a blessed set of miracles from its inception. The confluence of God's blessings that brought so many disparate, brilliant men together in one place, focused their minds toward one goal, gave them the wisdom and patience to work through incredibly fractious legitimate arguments to define and then achieve it. And then the most stalwart courage to see what they had started through to the end, whatever the personal cost.

To stay the course.

A new nation, born of ideals never before articulated as the basis for a nation in the history of man.

Because they held these truths to be self-evident.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

Freedom and enshrining the natural, God-given rights that guarantee it. To owe no compelled fealty to crown or man ever again.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Oh, my God, yes. We are exceptional.

We have always stood ready to do exceptional things when needed, time and again. For our own country and for the world.

No other country on Earth can say that like America can.

Oh, dearest friends - be proud. Be proud of this vast, beautiful, wonderful place filled with amazing people, built block by sometimes painful block on such a solid foundation of forethought, with 250 years of American sacrifice and courage.

So much courage.

So many good people.

This is my Happy Birthday to this magnificent country, wrapped up in a love letter, and God bless her.

I can't help myself.

AMERICA

Oh, it's the most beautiful word in the world.

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