My Passion For America

Everyone has that certain thing that makes them who they are. That certain thing for me is soccer. It’s my hobby, my biggest interest, and my passion. Soccer isn’t just a sport for me, it’s my life. It has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have played the intriguing game of soccer since I was four years old, and I have loved it ever since.

My love for baseball started a long time ago when I was still a little kid, I Must have been six or seven years old. I could not have been younger than this, although I can vividly remember the experience as if it was yesterday. It was actually the very first time that my dad volunteered to take me to a real baseball game, he must have seen my love for baseball due to the fact that I loved playing catch when I was a young boy. From this observation he must have seen a future baseball player. He was also a baseball player, so baseball was not actually new to the family. I had the thought that I might have been a basketball star, however i enjoyed baseball too much and was much to short to be much good at basketball.

Three score years ago, a young boy growing up in Confederate South witnessed and remembers to this day the face of General Robert E. Lee when the Confederate States fell. It had not only gave the boy resentment for what will happen to the future of the south, but it had also taught the boy how struggle and hard work might not always pay off ¹. That boy stands here today in the presence of the new Princeton generation, ready to pass the baton of this nation on the future generation of workers and thinkers². We as people are not here merely to make a living. We are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. We are here to enrich the world, and we impoverish yourself if we forget the

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" (Mauro, sec. 1). This was the original pledge of allegiance to the United States of America given on October 12th, 1892, celebrating the four hundred year memory of Columbus’s journey (Mauro, sec. 1). This pledge is now a part of all school systems, recited at many sporting events, and posted in various places all over the United States of America. Since that time, the pledge now reads, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty, and justice for all” (Mauro, sec. 1). This pledge is a representation

As each small town holds its send-off rallies in the local high school gym or forms a welcome parade at the airport to celebrate their returning heroes, these American patriots are inspiring our nation again. They’re reminding us of simple truths unchanged by time: patriotism, faithfulness, loyalty, duty, honor, respect and commitment. They remind us of an even greater truth: America has been the great light of the world because of the goodness of our people. Alexis de Tocqueville summed it up well when he wrote, “America is great because she is good; and when America ceases to be good, she will cease to be

The people that first came to America came in order to escape life in their home countries, the hope for a better future consumed their bodies as they ventured into the unknown in search of freedom and the right to prosper. Hope was what guided them fearlessly through the unknown and their hope ensured their survival. And from then on the hunger for freedom became unbearable as we tried to succeed from Great Britain. Because of the hope that burned inside of the hearts of the armies that fought for our freedom we are able to be here now. The burning flame of hope was passed down to us but we haven’t fed it.

America- the country that has been thriving and never destroyed for 234 years, and that lives by the quote “The Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave”. It harbors people of all types of backgrounds, ages, and genders. Since the founding fathers, many generations have moved up to be the main authority of the nation, with several more to come. These generations have been taught and brought up, some more vigorously than others, to lead our country correctly and efficiently. This was their responsibility to America, despite their age and gender. Therefore, my generation has a great assignment to America because we will be the next human-beings to inherit the country. We must be educated, brought up by faith, and develop and attachment to our nation for the sake of our people and our world.

“Today in America, a teacher spent extra time with a student who needed it, and did her part to lift America’s graduation rate to its highest levels in more than three decades. An entrepreneur flipped on the lights in her tech startup, and did her part to add to the more than eight million new jobs our businesses have created over the past four years. An autoworker fine-tuned some of the best, most fuel-efficient cars in the world, and did his part to help America wean itself off foreign oil. A farmer prepared for the spring after the strongest five-year stretch of farm exports in our history. A rural doctor gave a young child the first prescription to treat asthma that his mother could afford. A man took the bus home from the graveyard

The United States of America has seen great change throughout its history. While a considerable amount of time has matured the nation, the core spirit of the American people remains unaffected. In spite of all the wars fought and problems that arose, the

Although life is overbooked and filled with stressors, I can relax and enjoy playing soccer. Wearing the colors and badge of the team I’m on is something I hold with pride, and I work to play well while representing my team. At the same time, I train and work hard to excel and reach higher levels of competitive soccer. Even with the constant ups and downs and quiet car-rides when we lose, my passion for the game still tends to bring me back to the game and take my mind off of all my cares. Many a time I would sit and want to quit, but all the adversity and strong work ethic shapes who I am today. Through all my experiences, soccer is one of my favorite things to do and a passion I fully enjoy. Playing in the high-intensity travel and school games, plus coaching of my little brother’s team all are activities I love.

Throughout the history of America, the ability to overcome adversity has served as a defining characteristic of the people’s identity. The notion of being able to face and overcome challenges, despite the sacrifices or risks, persists to this day in the United States. From situations such as the war of Iraq to parents working several jobs a day to put food on the table, one conclusion seems inescapable: America’s current generation has, indeed, continued to defy the odds against them just as their ancestors in World War II had.

America — the land of the free, and the home of the brave — is considered to be one of the most powerful and influential countries on the planet. Through its impressive history as a world power and its exuberant impact on the global stage, a glance inwards shows that the United States of America is no longer the shining city upon a hill that it once was. As the country stands, it falls short of being the beacon of aspiration that it so longs to be, failing to live up to the image that so many of its people have. With an ever-increasing number of economic issues, inconsistently poor infrastructure, haphazardly structured standardized education, and a myriad of social issues that ranges from an obesity pandemic, poorly handled immigration, and

at it. Throughout the course of history America has had it’s rough patches and it's hard times where things did not look like they could get any worse. In the end of it all though, the land of the free and the home of the brave prevailed no matter what the obstacle. The country is going to continue getting stronger and coming together more in the future years. The vision I have for America is one that some others may never believe possible, but with the right mindset and the will for change anything can become reality. The vision I have for America is one where people can come together fully without being judged on how they look or act, where people will not be hated on because of their sexuality, or where people can express themselves through religion without being criticized or alienated.

We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

When I close my eyes and envision the United States, I see barbeques and baseball games. Children running around in big, green playgrounds and coming home to white picket fences and well kept flowerbeds. As sunny and aesthetically pleasing as this image of our country is, I find it oddly discomforting. Here I am, standing on the precipice on adulthood, about to inherit the very future of this country, and I still see this picture of stereotypical 1950's idealism. And while the greatest generation may retain their title, the world is moving at a faster pace than the sleepy hometowns that were once the American Dream. My vision involves us stepping up to the plate and reaffirming our position as the land of opportunity.