Posted on 11/03/2018 12:06:03 PM PDT by AFreeBird
KYIV, Ukraine—How do you measure America’s greatness?
By the size of its economy, or the strength of its military?
By the height of its city skylines, or the audacity of the moon landings?
Perhaps, by the heroism of the Marines who landed on Iwo Jima, or of the Army soldiers who landed on Omaha Beach?
Maybe. But America’s greatness is not always measured like in the movies or a campaign speech. Sometimes, an anonymous act of gratitude is proof enough, even if we, as Americans, don’t always see it that way.
In August, my wife, Lilya, and I were at dinner in Geyserville, California, with my younger brother, Drew, and his girlfriend, Gabrielle.
We’d been wine tasting all afternoon and had rounded off the day with a few cocktails to boot. Feeling a bit loosened up, my brother and I, as is our habit, slipped into a familiar topic of conversation—the war in Afghanistan.
You see, both Drew and I are U.S. military veterans. And, naturally, we get to talking about our wartime experiences whenever we’re together. Often a bit too loudly, as Lilya and Gabrielle gently suggested on that night in Geyserville.
....
(Excerpt) Read more at dailysignal.com ...
No, the mobs don’t define us.
The wondrous side of America is something that citizens in it can easily begin to forget. But to forget that is really to forget God who had made her great in times of great devotion, and then who also permitted her to decline when her devotion also declined.
Awesome article.
I’ll never forget the look on my Chinese MIL’s face when we flew to California back in 1997. As the plane banked for final approach at SFO, she looked down with her mouth open at millions of houses spread over mile after mile after mile of beautiful rolling hills.
Completely at odds with what she had been taught since childhood. She was a huge Mao supporter when she was young, was among the screaming hoards of red-book-wavers in Tienanmen Square back in the late ‘50s.
I let her take my window seat when we were on final approach. I stood in the aisle and watched her.
I cringed a bit when he said he took his wife through Hollywood.
L.A. is in such bad shape. I fear for the tourists who cone visit with high expectations and are greeted to crumbling infrastructure and the smell of urine due to the rampant homelessness resulting from the failed policies of leftists running the place.
Perhaps I am being harsh...or standards are just different...America is great but it could be so much better.
MAGA.
Well put. These next few years are the fight of our lives dear patriots. Midterms 2018, Trump 2020, all needed...all impossible without spiritual revival!
This was a great read.
Well, perhaps they just drove through all the touristy spots.
What a Great Country and the article is terrific.
What a Great Country and the article is terrific.
Gone are the days of the folk singers & cinema verite who would depict life as it really is (or some semblance). The so-called artistes of today wouldn't dare show the consequences of their political beliefs.
I am referring precisely to the touristy spots. Hollywood Blvd is the worst! Homelessness yes, and the Scientologists own most of the historic buildings. :( This city has so much money...so much potential.. but good grief.
Without missing a beat, Lilya replied: “This is the greatest country in the world. But most Americans don’t know it.”
Yea, too many don’t understand.
Sorry, I stuttered.
Yea, in her country it has been bombed and shelled and set on fire....
Al things in perspective I think.
For your interest.
Now, let's see America through the eyes of a Black Ohio State Legislator and A.M.E. Bishop named Benjamin W. Arnett, noting that his words were delivered about thirteen years following the Civil War in his Centennial Thanksgiving Sermon celebrating America's Declaration of Independence.
"Let us see what it is that makes us so great; wherein lies our strength. What has made us one of the greatest powers of the earth, politically and intellectually? Have we come to the conclusion that it is Righteousness that exalteth a nation? We have met to-day at the request of the President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, and also the Governor of our beloved State, Rutherford B. Hayes. For what? Why call us from our homes? Why come to the house of God? Why not go to the hall of mirth and to the places of amusement to-day? No that is not what they want us to do. We are commanded to go to our 'several places of worship, and there offer up thanks to Kind Providence which has brought our nation through the scenes of another year, and blessed the land with peace, plenty and prosperity.' Then as Americans we have reason to rejoice and congratulate ourselves on the greatness of our beloved country; at this the close of the first hundred years of experimental government of the people, by the people, and for the people. To be a citizen of this vast country is something, and to share in its privileges and duties is more than something." - Dr. Benjaming W. Arnett, St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Urbana, Ohio, Centennial Thanksgiving Sermon, November 1876
This is a great article. What a sweet, cute couple.
Takeaway line is that there IS such a thing as privilege. WE HAVE AMERICAN PRIVILEGE. And more of us need gratitude for it. We don’t need to “check our privilege” or be ashamed of it! But we can use it to help others in the cause of freedom, around the world.
I definitely got tears in my eyes reading this.
Thank you so much for posting it.
Nice story.
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