Yesterday was the anniversary of a huge tragedy in American history: the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This one event changed the way Americans view conflict and catapulted us into the second world war. But above all, it is a symbol of our resilience and reminds us of America's once insurmountable power and influence in the global arena. Many think this role is lost and we are fighting an uphill battle against the power of other upcoming global powers.
But what truly defines America? Our bold, limitless, idealism- the principles and freedoms that this nation was built on and fights to uphold. It often feels as though we are fighting among ourselves for these freedoms- but that ability to argue, to disagree, and to push forward is what makes our nation great. Our government's inability to govern may be embarrassing, the power of corporations suffocating, and social conservatism simply wrong, but the fundamental American identity still knits this country together. Somewhere inside, past the materialism and selfishness, the idea of the American dream still blazes-- the belief that we can fulfill our dreams and build strong communities, and that we can give back and build a better world.
A recent experience with a foreign-exchange student friend of mine illustrates this beautifully. She is from an upper class Chinese family and moved to the United States by herself to attend high school. I asked her why she'd come to America, when her situation in China had been quite comfortable. She responded simply, "To achieve dreams."
I'm proud and incredibly blessed to be an American.
