As America celebrates its semiquincentennial, millions are reflecting on 250 years of liberty, sacrifice, and national achievement. With celebrations spanning the nation and collaboration from international partners, this weekend will be one remembered for generations to come. It is an appropriate moment not only to celebrate our past, but to consider what has truly made America and North Carolina great.
As we enter this next phase of American democracy, I cannot help but notice some alarming realities. We seem to have entered an era where disunity, division, and hatred are not only cultivated, but celebrated. A recent Gallup poll suggested that only a fraction of the country is proud to be American. It was a shocking statistic.
Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC, for several meetings and to participate in various historical and patriotic events. Our nation’s capital is filled with reminders of the beauty and magnificence of our country. Yet, in the echo chamber of a constant media barrage, I believe we have forgotten what makes America truly great. Social media has only distorted our perspective, causing us to fundamentally lose sight of the true heart of America.
America’s greatness is not found in our abundance of resources, nor our geographical size. It isn’t found in our military successes and might. It isn’t found in our elite academic institutions or think tanks. No, I believe that America’s greatness rests upon one foundational reality: the providential hand of Almighty God.
It was by the providential hand of God that a small brigade of New England patriots, outmanned and out-resourced, brought Great Britain, the greatest fighting force of the period, to its knees in a quest for independence. It was by the hand of God that intelligent men were guided to craft documents with the eloquence needed to not only declare our independence, but to build the enduring framework of a new government of the people.
From the Revolutionary War and the war of 1812 to the Civil War, two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War, America has endured extraordinary trials while advancing as the world’s greatest superpower. I believe our perseverance through these defining moments reflect the mighty hand of God. We must take time to realize how blessed we truly are, and strip away any mindset of entitlement. America is an incredible land of opportunity, providing its inhabitants with boundless possibilities to pursue their dreams, their callings, and their desires. The idea of America is an experiment that offers everyone the opportunity to achieve the impossible.
The true heart of America is not found in our governmental systems; it is found in the homes of our citizenry. From the heartland to the coastlines, from the oceans to the valleys, to the Great Lakes and everything in between, the true heart of America resides in the people who audaciously demand that freedom and liberty, as given to us by God, are fundamental rights to human existence. It lives in those who believe that a government of the people, by the people, and for the people is not idealistic, but realistic, and that the citizenry does not answer to the government, but the government answers to the citizenry.
The true heart of America is not found in the glistening ballrooms of politicians engaging in social diplomacy. It is found in the farmer providing for his family and serving his community. It is not found in the elite dinner parties that broadcast the status of Washington insiders; it is found in the pastor lovingly shepherding his congregation toward righteousness. It is not found in the opulence of academic institutions, but in the homes of mothers and fathers raising their children to be men and women of character.
The true heart of America is found not simply in a cultural identity, but in the extraordinary act of balancing tradition with a passionate pursuit of cutting-edge innovation.
What we do not need in this moment are leaders who arrogantly suggest that America’s might is connected solely to human ingenuity, strength, or intelligence. What we need are humble patriots who recognize that America ultimately exists by the providence of God, and our continued greatness depends on remaining a people committed to goodness. The moment the citizens of our great nation reject God and abandon that goodness is the day America will cease to be great.
So as we celebrate 250 years of the American experiment, may we remember that the true heart of America is not found in Washington, in wealth, or in a worldly power. It is found in a free people who acknowledge God, cherish liberty, and strive to live lives of faith, virtue and service. If we maintain that heart, America, and North Carolina, will continue to be a beacon of hope for generations to come.