American Kid

By Tammy Derouin

I remember a time when the school day began by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. We were taught what the colors stood for, what the stars and stripes represented, the proper way to raise and lower the flag, how to handle it and above all, never, ever let it touch the ground. 

Schools began to teach American History in the elementary grades.  We knew and understood such phrases as, “One if by land, two if by sea;” and “Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes.” We were taught why the original Tea Party took place and therefore understand the important symbolism it represents for a grass-roots political party today. We knew what the shot heard around the world meant and where it took place. We learned why the American Revolution was an important, world changing event.

Do you remember when patriotic songs were part of elementary music class?  Music class and music programs once included such songs as America the Beautiful, My Country ‘Tis of Thee (America) and God Bless America.  The Star Spangled Banner, our National Anthem, tells a story, through it all, our flag was still there.

We also learned songs which were unique to particular times, wars and struggles.  Yankee Doodle, Dixieland, Don’t Sit under the Apple Tree and many others helped to tie American history together.  Maybe we didn’t realize it at the time but through music we learned a few things. Remember School House Rock?  I learned the preamble to the Constitution and had fun learning how a bill is supposed to become a law by watching School House Rock.  For me, this was all part of the experience of being blessed to be an American Kid.

By learning our history, we understood that we were exceptional among nations; we were free.  American History also taught us many aspects of world history. As we aged, the history advanced and went a little deeper. History isn’t always pretty.  In fact, it can be done right horrifying.  Learning how other nations governed their people, many with an iron fist, made it much easier to understand why so many risked everything to live in the land of the free. 

Learning our history and how the Constitution separates the branches of our government, as well as acknowledging our God given rights, had a huge impact on my life. The United States was a country like no other, built on the idea that man should live free and was capable of controlling his own destiny.  Because our God given rights are stated in the Bill of Rights and protected under the Constitution, we are able to forge our own path.  We the people should not be enslaved by our government. It isn’t supposed to interfere in our personal lives, dictate our future or determine our wants and needs.  If it did, the government would be bestowing our rights upon us.  It would give what it determined we should have and remove what it felt we no longer needed.  We would become a land of men rather than a land of laws.  Our exceptionalism would cease.

Limited government means we are supposed to be self-reliant.  The government is not supposed to provide us with our daily needs.  That’s for us to determine. We have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Success and happiness is up to each individual. There are no guarantees. Life is what you make it. 

The sacrifices of those who came before us either by helping to establish our freedom during the Revolutionary War or by maintaining our freedom throughout the course of our history is what has kept us free.  We must defend our country from our enemies both foreign and domestic.

The United States has been involved in many wars and struggles throughout our history.  Our enemies have, for the most part, been a foreign entity.  It wasn’t until 2008 that the true meaning of a domestic enemy became so real.  The founding fathers knew that it was possible that we would have internal struggles.  When our Constitution is ignored by the executive and he assumes the role of another branch of government or writes orders like a king, our enemy has become domestic.

When our executive doesn’t uphold the Constitution by protecting our homeland, turns a blind eye to foreign invaders, helps to arm our enemies, vilifies our police and every action appears to be a willful act to create chaos and collapse our government, we have created a tyrant.

I remember a time when the government protected the people and didn’t try to destroy it from within.  I remember a time when the day began by pledging allegiance to the Republic for which the flag represented.

“The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves.”

George Washington