What Makes America Great?

CPT Jack Durish — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 21:01:37 -0500

As the chairman of my VFW Post’s educational outreach committee, I was dismayed to learn that this year’s theme for both the Patriot’s Pen (Intermediate School) and Voice of Democracy (high school) essay competitions is “What Makes America Great”. Any student who would dare walk onto a school campus wearing a “MAGA” shirt or hat, or voice any support for our President, might well expect to be treated like a pariah as well as physically assaulted.
I honestly didn’t expect many entries inasmuch as we were asking students to step on a political landmine, one that divides the nation. As it turns out, my expectations were accurate.

I also doubted that the teachers would encourage participation despite the cash awards and scholarships that might be used to encourage students to write competitive essays. Indeed, teachers that I approached with the opportunity spoke openly of their derision for the topic. Again, I wasn’t surprised at this reception. There are countless stories circulating of teachers who encourage bullying of students who show any inclination to wander from the socialist herd. Indeed, many teachers are themselves guilty of bullying such students.

I have seen the effects of student indoctrination in my own grandchildren. One recent evening, my wife and I chauffeured two of our granddaughters to their gymnastics training. As we watched one, the other waiting her turn happened to notice a newspaper I was carrying. The page I had turned to featured an article about the illegal investigation of President Trump by the FBI. Just seeing the name “Trump” agitated my granddaughter. Rather than confront her in a public place, I folded the paper and put it out of sight.

Later, my wife and I were talking about the few contest entries I was processing in preparation for judging when this same 12-year old granddaughter came into the room. Although she is an intermediate school student, her principal and teachers had elected to not encourage their students to participate.

Now imagine my surprise when our granddaughter asked about the competition and I told her it's theme. “What Makes America Great.” She didn’t hesitate, but answered simply with just two words, “We do.”

And that to me is the winning entry. Too bad the contest guidelines require more...

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Nov 3 at 2019 9:09 PM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 21:09:32 -0500

I like her response.

Response by SPC Kevin Ford made Nov 3 at 2019 9:16 PM

SPC Kevin Ford — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 21:16:48 -0500

I agree, if they didn't want the contest to get political why did they pick a topic for a theme that many would see as a play off of one party's candidate? It sounds like a great program and before one person used it as a campaign slogan it would have been a great theme. But as you say, now that topic is a political landmine.

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Nov 3 at 2019 9:30 PM

SP5 Mark Kuzinski — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 21:30:01 -0500

Great post CPT Jack Durish - Here is the quote that I started the day off with.

"The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next."
Abraham Lincoln

We are fighting a uphill battle but one worth fighting. Bless you Jack.

Response by SP5 Dennis Loberger made Nov 3 at 2019 10:14 PM

SP5 Dennis Loberger — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 22:14:00 -0500

Smart

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2019 10:45 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 22:45:15 -0500

Honestly, this is a loaded question. No matter what the student would write.....other than what your brilliant granddaughter said.....almost any answer is a field of land-mines that can turn ugly and possibly be easily disputed. Someone want to talk about freedoms....go ahead. But be warned that their are many other countries that have freedoms. Want to talk about justice? Go ahead. But there are many other countries that have justice. This question creates a vicious cycle of back and forth that ends in nothing but both parties of the discussion pissed off.

If it were me writing the essay, I would talk about everything that makes us great....and everything that DOESN'T make us great...and how the people of the US do their best to overcome the shit that we see, read, experience, every day and still move forward to try and make this a better country for our children.

But the caveat is that there are those in other countries that do the exact same thing.

So, we circle back again to the fact that this is a loaded question, fraught with peril.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i754sLxapcs

America is Not the Greatest Country in the World Anymore "The Newsroom"

I recently came across this video as it strolled across my Facebook news feed and I honestly can't believe I hadn't seen this before! Never seen the show bef...

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Nov 3 at 2019 10:53 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 22:53:06 -0500

CPT Jack Durish The magazine, ‘National Review’ of Sept 9, 2019, contains 31 extremely well written, short essays entitled: WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT AMERICA.

A few of the authors are well known, others simply pour their hearts out.

I cannot divulge where I ‘found’ the magazine, it was important to me!

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Nov 4 at 2019 4:22 PM

SGT Matthew S. — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 16:22:51 -0500

Your granddaughter hit the answer squarely there, and as simple as you can make it. America is only great because the *people* choose to *make* it that way.