For part of her high school, Debbie took a couple of Character of America classes from BYU Independent Study. One focused on the documents and symbols of America, the other focused on the people of American history. Debbie became even more patriotic (if that’s possible) after all she learned. Sometime right after the start of the year she got an idea to write a letter to the editor of our local newspaper. It was turned into a guest commentary because of the length. I wanted to share it here.

“With President’s Day just here, and the State of the Union Address just past us, the time is now to think about America. First of all, let me say that although I am only a 16-year-old girl, I feel great patriotism toward my country. I am in awe at how it was inspiringly created, and am filled with gratitude towards those many people who contributed to the founding and preserving of it. But when I look at the nation now and all the disunity that is going on inside of it, I am grieved. 

“When one turns on the news, the majority of what is heard is controversial. “Trump did this!” or “This person did that!” and on it goes, people and their condescending views of government leaders and anyone who does not believe as they do. Every direction you turn there is contention. It seems to me that too often, people make enemies of those they disagree with. And then they have to let everyone know that person is their enemy, and make him/her everyone else’s. If that said enemy makes any sort of statement, their antagonist must find something wrong with it, even if there is no real fault. And then with that statement, (or whatever it might be) that person magnifies, twists, and changes its meaning until it is something completely different; its original intention lost. 

“In the midst of all this controversy and disagreement, the true values of our country can be obstructed, neglected, and even forgotten. What is America really about? Exact equality, and making sure there is the perfect amount of representation for every type of person in America? Is it really about something the President was reported to have said last week that someone took as racist? It is not. It is about the same principles those pilgrims came for all those years ago. It is about those same things that moved the Founding Fathers to forge and build a wonderful nation that could stand strong and live long. Those same virtues that drove millions of soldiers to give even their very lives for the cause of their country. Such principles as freedom, equity,  justice, hard work, personal integrity, and the ability to rise and become something great. We citizens now — who are the beneficiaries of their work — have the obligation to uphold and defend the ethical laws and morals of our country — to respect them. But fighting and arguing isn’t the way to go about it. Although you may disagree with the President, you don’t have to hate and revile against him day in and day out. That’s not going to make your life or America’s any better, it’s only hurting it. Learning to be respectful and cooperate with others are both valuable qualities citizens can develop. We have seen from our own Civil War the devastation lack of cooperation can bring. So what benefits can a functional and cooperative nation bring? Maybe that’s something to think about. As for me, I believe that as we strive for cooperation and unity, (with the nation’s virtuous goals and principles in mind) and look to God who is the true founder and ruler of our nation, we can overcome the difficulties that arise within our country, to be strong and great without. 

“What can you do to better our country and cooperate with its leaders?”

We sure love our patriotic girl! She received several nice emails that were first sent to the editor who passed them along to her. One of the greatest compliments came when we realized people from all political arenas told her what a great job she had done with her guest commentary.

On the topic of American History there are some podcasts by the Washington Post that are engaging to listen too. One is called Presidential and covers each of the U.S. Presidents, their personalities and legacies. The other is called Constitutional and covers the history of the U.S. Constitution, how it was framed and continues to be reframed today.