October 2020 (11th grade)
Is this the America the founders envisioned?
When a tree first begins its life it starts as a seed. As it grows it becomes a sapling, its roots are young and untried. But with a little bit of care those untested roots quickly grow strong and capable, capable of supporting the tenacious tree that stands tall just above it. From the minds of the founders sprouted the seed that is America. They risked it all to create a nation that would outlive them. They fought for and protected their country because they had every intent of making sure that it would flourish beyond their wildest dreams. They knew that America contained immeasurable potential; for the ability to grow, develop, struggle, and create was written into the very genetic code of our country. Just as a farmer must water and protect his seed to ensure its survival our founders nurtured the seed of America; they protected it, allowed it to grow, and endowed it with the resilience it would need to become the giant, sprawling forest that it is today. The founders created the framework that would allow the US to be fortified, driven, and sustained by the ideals of justice, liberty, freedom, and equality.
America is a concept born in the minds of resilient, determined humans. Our founders were an unlikely group for their time. Both women and men, immigrants and citizens. Despite their differences, they all knew what it meant to live under the rule of a government whose ideals did not match their own. This motivated them to create the concept of a nation founded on the principle that every human has certain inalienable rights. Those which include “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The beauty of our democracy is that it places power in the people. It allows them to build, break down, and rebuild. Our country can grow and evolve to best suit the needs of any given generation. The founders understood that America, though it may have been their concept, was much larger than them. Through our democracy the prosperity of future generations was ensured.
Today, we as a country are faced with the challenge to uphold our values and ideals. And to continue to nurture the inheritance passed down to us by our founders. We are currently engaged in a fight to protect justice and equality in our country, to create a society in which we all feel we belong. These values are worth fighting for because they are the roots that keep our nation standing tall and proud. In honor of those that have fought before us we not only have the right but the obligation to fight for our ideals. To protect what makes America, America. We can protect through protest. Our right to free speech can not be taken for granted. For oppressed groups in this nation protesting is a venue by which to be heard. It fosters change. Our democracy gives us the ability to vote. We can steer our nation in whatever direction we choose and we have the right to retract our consent from an unjust government. The fight for equality is continuous but our founders equipped this country with the tools necessary to perpetuate change. We must utilize these tools to hold true to the values of our nation. Because just as a tree changes and endures through every season of the year, America grows and evolves through every era of our journey as a nation. There is strength and beauty in our constant pursuit for improvement. And there is hope in the tenacity and passion of our new and emerging generations. With every new generation the forest of America grows and becomes the best version of itself. We are an ever evolving, regenerating, living organism. Just as our founders intended us to be. The United States of America is a country of hope, of opportunity. That’s what makes the American dream. Our unwavering hope, limitless opportunity, and courageous progress. We stand tall like our great Statue of Liberty, a beacon of hope welcoming those who seek freedom, attracting those in the pursuit of happiness like our founding fathers were all those years ago when they fought against their oppressors.
We are not a perfect country, but we are persistent in our existence. Persistent in our determination to be better. Our founders meant for us to have the ability to uphold the ideals of our country and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my young generation has the strength to do so. Because people fought and still fight everyday to protect our intrinsic human rights, to protect our country. Because our values and our ideals deserve to be protected. Our country will continue to be propelled beyond our Founders’ wildest dreams and our beautiful, exceptional forest will continue to thrive. So yes, we are the America our founders envisioned. We uphold and strengthen the ideals of our country, we continually stand by the truths and rights our founders fought for, and we refine them in our journey for our perfect union.
America is a concept born in the minds of resilient, determined humans. Our founders were an unlikely group for their time. Both women and men, immigrants and citizens. Despite their differences, they all knew what it meant to live under the rule of a government whose ideals did not match their own. This motivated them to create the concept of a nation founded on the principle that every human has certain inalienable rights. Those which include “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The beauty of our democracy is that it places power in the people. It allows them to build, break down, and rebuild. Our country can grow and evolve to best suit the needs of any given generation. The founders understood that America, though it may have been their concept, was much larger than them. Through our democracy the prosperity of future generations was ensured.
Today, we as a country are faced with the challenge to uphold our values and ideals. And to continue to nurture the inheritance passed down to us by our founders. We are currently engaged in a fight to protect justice and equality in our country, to create a society in which we all feel we belong. These values are worth fighting for because they are the roots that keep our nation standing tall and proud. In honor of those that have fought before us we not only have the right but the obligation to fight for our ideals. To protect what makes America, America. We can protect through protest. Our right to free speech can not be taken for granted. For oppressed groups in this nation protesting is a venue by which to be heard. It fosters change. Our democracy gives us the ability to vote. We can steer our nation in whatever direction we choose and we have the right to retract our consent from an unjust government. The fight for equality is continuous but our founders equipped this country with the tools necessary to perpetuate change. We must utilize these tools to hold true to the values of our nation. Because just as a tree changes and endures through every season of the year, America grows and evolves through every era of our journey as a nation. There is strength and beauty in our constant pursuit for improvement. And there is hope in the tenacity and passion of our new and emerging generations. With every new generation the forest of America grows and becomes the best version of itself. We are an ever evolving, regenerating, living organism. Just as our founders intended us to be. The United States of America is a country of hope, of opportunity. That’s what makes the American dream. Our unwavering hope, limitless opportunity, and courageous progress. We stand tall like our great Statue of Liberty, a beacon of hope welcoming those who seek freedom, attracting those in the pursuit of happiness like our founding fathers were all those years ago when they fought against their oppressors.
We are not a perfect country, but we are persistent in our existence. Persistent in our determination to be better. Our founders meant for us to have the ability to uphold the ideals of our country and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my young generation has the strength to do so. Because people fought and still fight everyday to protect our intrinsic human rights, to protect our country. Because our values and our ideals deserve to be protected. Our country will continue to be propelled beyond our Founders’ wildest dreams and our beautiful, exceptional forest will continue to thrive. So yes, we are the America our founders envisioned. We uphold and strengthen the ideals of our country, we continually stand by the truths and rights our founders fought for, and we refine them in our journey for our perfect union.