“All great changes in America begin at the dinner table.”
– Ronald Reagan
“On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” These are the words of The Boy Scout Oath. For more than 100 years, the Scouting program has worked to train young men and boys to be people of honor, good citizens, and grow into leaders of integrity. Qualities of trustworthiness, loyalty, reverence, good manners and so much more are taught and held in high regard. I still believe that Scouting is the best program going to help young people become the honorable people this country needs.
One of the qualities that Scouting teaches and I would like to focus on is that of patriotism. To know and appreciate what it means to be an American. I grew up in the 60’s and remember saying the Pledge of Allegiance before school each morning and at the start of special programs and events. I also remember the start of the movement to stop saying the pledge so as not to offend anyone. This was the start of political correctness in our country. I believe that political correctness has done more to damage America and her people than any other movement. It is as actor Charlton Heston once said: “Political correctness is tyranny with manners.”
Patriotism is not a blind surrender to whatever our government wants. That is what political correctness would have. America is the land of the free. Freedoms to think, speak, and believe as we wish without being controlled or in fear of the government. To love our country is to be able to correct it when it is wrong and stand faithful when it is right. Carl Schurz, an American political leader at the turn of the 20th century said “My country right or wrong: when right, to keep her right; when wrong, to put her right.”
Success-Minded People know that patriotism is not just a matter of opinion or something to talk about; it is the very core of our success. America has been and is the land of opportunity. It is the place where you can become what you want to be and achieve your dreams in a big way. This is why people come from all over the world to live here. American greatness is who we are, not what we once were.
The lessons of America, of things like the Boy Scout Law and roll of the religion in our life are not for those who think they are fun; they are the things that make America great. Our country is only as good as her people. The better you are the better the country is as a whole. Zig Ziglar said, “Building a better you is the first step to building a better America.” Do not think that your life and behavior does not matter. The time has come to rebuild America to her greatness and that can only be done by building the greatness of her people.
© 2012 John Patrick Hickey
