Brushfire of Freedom
The Conservative Cowboy
Note: Originally published March 13, 2009.
As we start toward the end of the first decade in the young 21st century I have noticed a shift in American values. As we see a new generation entering the workforce there is always going to be some changes in the way business is conducted, and the lifestyles of our society. America is one of the most diverse nations in the world; we see it everywhere from the choices at the supermarket to our diverse workplace and social environments. Change is something that is not only expected but appreciated in society. But change for the sake of change is not the answer.
I am 23-years-old and part of this new generation. For the sake of identification we will call it generation “y”. We have grown up with more technology, ease of communication, and an expanding global marketplace than any other generation in history. We cannot however, forget why this nation has become the blueprint for success. America did not become the most powerful nation in the world by resting on our laurels. Since the second industrial revolution and the transcontinental railroad we have been on the cutting edge of technological advancements in all fields. This nation has a long history of working for every bit of success in every facet of: Government, Foreign Relations, Business and Research & Development. After World War I, America instituted an isolationist attitude because the war was horrible and we did not want to be involved in the outside world, we had two great oceans between us and the rest of Western Civilization.
We got a very blunt reminder with the attack on Pearl Harbor that the world’s issues involve everyone, and that with the help of technology the world was getting smaller. Pearl Harbor was a turning point in our nation’s view of the world. All of a sudden our oceans could not protect us from the problems of the rest of the world.
Fast forward to the current time and we can see the steps made with American companies in operation around the globe. We outsource everything from manufacturing to health care. We can get information instantaneously via the internet and e-mail; we can wire money from one country’s currency to another with the push of a button. With all of these great shifts in the ease of communication and business it is easy to forget the past and the opportunities our parents and their parents have provided our new generation. Yet with these great opportunities comes a measure of responsibility, a responsibility that we can sometimes forget. We as American’s cannot forget about personal obligation and accountability to ourselves and our great nation. We cannot blame our hardships on the government or the rich; instead we need to ask ourselves what steps we need to take to change the situation. This country was built on the ideas and sweat of entrepreneurs, not politicians. This country was founded on the idea that the people hold the power, not the government. We need to get back the “can do” attitude and pick ourselves up by our bootstraps. We are not a nation of have’s and have-not’s, we are a nation of opportunity.
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