What Makes America America?
What makes America truly America is not merely geography, borders, or historical dates, but a spirit — an enduring vision of a people who believe that every person has a rightful place at the table of human dignity.
At its best, America is a land where everyone has a sense of belonging. The idea is woven into our founding promise: that every individual matters, that every voice counts, and that each human being is endowed with an inherent worth.
To belong in America is not simply to reside here — it is to be seen, to be welcomed, and to be regarded as a participant in the shared story of our nation.
This nation has long aspired to be a welcoming, supportive, and respectful home for all. We have not always lived up to that aspiration perfectly, but the ideal persists — and it continues to guide us.
In America, the measure of a community is not how it treats the powerful, but how it welcomes the newcomer, listens to the overlooked, and respects those who differ from the majority.
When we practice this spirit, we create spaces where individuals feel valued and heard, and where the worth of a person is never determined by background, heritage, or circumstance.
From our earliest days, America has been a country shaped by the arrival of diverse peoples — those of every race, color, creed, and homeland.
The shores of this country have been a threshold for hope: a place where individuals fleeing oppression, seeking opportunity, or yearning for a better life have found a new beginning.
This diversity has not weakened us, it has strengthened us. It has expanded our imagination, enriched our culture, and deepened our understanding of what it means to be human.
Our nation is most itself when it embraces new voices rather than silencing them.
A true American community invites its members — old and new — to participate fully in shaping its future.
In our public life, diverse individuals bring unique perspectives that enrich decision-making, deepen wisdom, and broaden understanding.
When people can speak the truth without fear of reprisal, bias, or exclusion, we uncover solutions that no single viewpoint could have found alone.
This is why free speech and academic freedom are not just rights, they are the bedrock of our identity. The freedom to explore, question, challenge, and imagine allows knowledge to grow. Without these freedoms, the American spirit would wither.
Equally central to American identity is the belief that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to succeed.
Opportunity is not a guarantee of outcomes — it is the freedom to try, to strive, to work, and to hope.
Our greatness lies in creating a society where one’s future is not dictated by one’s past. This aspiration calls us to dismantle barriers, expand access, and ensure fairness — not because it is easy, but because it is right.
When opportunity is shared, dignity is upheld and the nation thrives.
Lastly, America stands for the freedom of conscience — the right of every person to practice their own religion, to live according to the wisdom of their tradition, or to follow no tradition at all.
This freedom is not merely tolerance, it is respect. It is the understanding that faith is deeply personal and that our differences can coexist peacefully when held with compassion and humility.
The diversity of belief in America is not a threat to unity — it is a testament to our strength and our trust in one another.
What makes America America is the courageous belief that we can build a nation grounded in belonging, respect, freedom, opportunity, and shared responsibility. It is an ongoing work — a promise we strive to fulfill every day.
And though we are imperfect, the ideal remains bright: that all people, from every path, may find here in America not just a place to live, but a place to truly belong.
By Medard Laz
One year ago many people said that the November 5th Election was going to be the most important Election in American history. Was it? What do YOU think makes America America?
If you think my words mirror your thoughts, then please email the above to your Representative and your Senators in Washington. Better yet, send it to them in the US Mail. Please do the same for those who represent you in your State. If my words do not mirror your thoughts, then send them your own words that do.
And if you think my words reflect your thoughts, please email or send them to whomever you watch or listen to that brings you the news or shares their opinions about the news. If my words do not reflect your thoughts, then please send them your own words that do.
Today is Veteran’s Day, a day we honor all American Veterans, living and departed, who have served our country with their lives. Over 1,307,000 soldiers have died in wars from 1775 until January, 2025. You can best honor them today by sharing what you think – WHAT MAKES AMERICA AMERICA?
I WOULD RATHER STAND WITH GOD AND BE JUDGED BY THE WORLD THAN STAND WITH THE WORLD AND BE JUDGED BY GOD!
