Tanked-up patriotism and trickle-down economics also spawned literary heroes. Each embodied a rags-to-riches fantasy, the idea that someone of low birth, can break out of his or her inherited station in life, climb the social ladder and become a success. And from that crucible appeared self-made men, the titans of industry, the Andrew Carnegies of yesterday, and the Bill Gates of today. Out of the same National test-tube arose the furnace of free-opportunity. Repeatedly, the United States stopped despots from dominating the World. Later, America struggled against the forces of the Hun in World War I, the fanatics of the Axis in WW II, and the fires of Communism during the Cold War. The Declaration of Independence of 1776 inspired the Founding Fathers to defy England, once the most powerful Nation on earth. Such revelations shook my faith.ĭespite America’s failures, I believe the United States remains a noble experiment. flag.Īs I grew older, I learned the dark side of U.S. Above the crash of drums, the clash of cymbals, and the thunder of brass soared a shrill piccolo that danced like a wraith among the stars on the field of blue on the U.S. One day, she played the Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Souza. When I was in grade school, a music teacher came around to each class.
Do you recall a simpler time, when the fires of patriotism stirred you? What was it like?
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