This Sunday, October 19, 1781, is the anniversary of the effective end of the American Revolution. It was on October 19, 1781, that General Lord Charles Cornwallis surrendered his army to the French and American forces besieging Yorktown, Virginia. This was the last major engagement of the American Revolution (1775-83) and marked the beginning of the end of the American Revolution. The war would officially end in 1783 with the British formally recognizing the United States of America.
Today, especially on social media, it’s more fashionable for Americans to criticize their country than to praise or appreciate it. Patriotism is on the decline, especially among young people. This is sad.
A nation that does not care about itself cannot sustain itself.
Even those who do love and appreciate the United States feel the need to bury their patriotism in multiple disclaimers so as to express almost remorseful empathy for those who have a different and more negative take on America.
I have to be honest. It’s deeply frustrating.
Of course, the United States isn’t perfect. Of course, there are and have been sins in the United States…past and present. Of course!
Do the sins of our nation’s past and present mean we shouldn’t love our country? Do those sins mean we shouldn’t be grateful for the good? For the blessings? Must we always bury our gratitude in disclaimers and caveats? Or worse, not even express patriotism at all!?
Is turning our back on love and gratitude the price we have to pay for empathy or sympathy? Is that the price we have to pay to somehow atone for the sins committed in America’s past?
Well, if it is…
Then, speaking for myself….
I’m not willing to pay that price!
In saying that, I’m not making light of anyone’s pain. I’m not glossing over or ignoring the reality that people have been hurt in American history. And are being hurt now.
But can you please show me a perfect country?
Go ahead.
I’ll wait.
Still waiting.
And still waiting.
Found one yet?
While you’re looking…
Can I ask you something else?
How does hating your own country help your country get better?
Answer me that!
How about this?
How about instead of anger and hate, we turn to love and gratitude? How about that? How about we (to steal a phrase from Romans 12) overcome evil with good?
How about we recognize the good as well as the bad? And how about we take time on days like today to be thankful for that good? And do so without tons of disclaimers!
The reality is….
All nations have sins in their past and present.
Every. Single. One.
Why? Because people are sinful. And whenever you get a bunch of people together, you’re going to have lots of sins and problems.
The only perfect kingdom is the one ruled by Jesus. And when He establishes His kingdom on this earth, then we will have perfect justice and perfect peace. Until then…
We do the best we can in this fallen world populated by fallen people.
God bless you, and God bless the United States of America!
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