From Sea to Shining Sea: What 250 Years of America Looks Like

Today, America turns 250 years old.

I have traveled abroad enough to know that the world does not always see us the way we see ourselves. In the Air Force, I learned early that the perception of the obnoxious American was real. Drilled into my head. A warning. Be mindful. Be respectful. Do not be that guy. Fair enough.

But here is what I have learned: Americans are not uniquely jerks. We are just human. I have seen plenty of arrogance in other countries. Seen plenty of rudeness. Seen people who think their way is the only way, their country is the only one that matters. It is not an American thing. It is the human experience. We all want to be the best. Certainly nothing to apologize for.

What Futbol is Showing Us.

But something interesting is happening right now, especially with the World Cup taking place from shore to shore across the United States. The world is seeing us differently.

Futbol, for most of us which ranks fourth or lower on the American sports ladder (behind football, basketball, baseball and Sophie Cunningham), is providing a window into who we actually are. Social media is exploding with foreigners sharing their unexpected wonderful experiences. They are posting videos of arriving in American cities. Being greeted. Being welcomed. Being shown that we are not the big bad bully the stereotypes suggest.

Traffic cones on top of statues? How dare they. Pretty awesome really. They have the courage to give it a go without fear of being locked up by Barney Fife. They are experiencing a country where you can be a little irreverent, a little silly, a little free without the government crushing you for it.

Someone on social channels said that competition brings out the best in us. That if we were rooting for a grandma knitting or crocheting, we would rally behind her with the same passion. That is true. That is who we are.

We expect greatness. We celebrate it. And when we see someone trying, really trying, we show up and we cheer.

The 70s and Backyard America

I grew up in the 70s. My parents threw grand Fourth of July parties in our humble backyard most years. Quintessential America with the grill going. Dad almost assuredly burning whatever went on that grill. Beer and soda. Endless amounts of carb-loaded comfort foods. Loud parents. Happy kids running around like idiots drinking from the hose when they got thirsty.

Sparklers at night in our hands that were always an inch or so away from causing permanent burn scars. Did not matter. We would grab another one out of the box and beg our parents to light it.

That was America to me. Simple. Free. Unafraid of the mess or the danger or the imperfection. Tell me I can't do something, and well, guess what, I am going to do it.

Why We Left England

America has never been about thinking we are better than you.

We left England because we wanted an opportunity to do what we wanted, when we wanted, and how we best saw fit to do it. Take off the shackles of government oppression and watch us explode with ingenuity. Creativity. Strength. Honor. Passion.

That founding principle has never left us. It is baked into who we are. The belief that you can make something of yourself if you are willing to work for it. That your circumstances do not define your future. That the only limits are the ones you accept.

President Reagan understood this. In his Farewell Address, he noted something remarkable: you can live in France your entire life and never become French. You can live in Japan and never become Japanese. But in America, "anyone from any corner of the Earth can come to live in America and become an American."

That is unique in the world. That is what sets us apart.

What We Do When We See Injustice

And guess what? When we see other nations getting pushed around, we bite our lower lip. See how things are going to play out. Then we plow our way into trying to make things better.

I love what Colin Powell said years ago when asked about America's military aggression across the globe. He said something like, and I am paraphrasing, "All America asked for was enough of your soil to bury our dead soldiers in."

We do what we have to do. Sometimes way longer than we want. Then we go home hoping to not have to come back. That is not the mark of a bully. That is the mark of a nation that cares enough to bleed for people who are not even ours.

From Seattle to Boston

The world is watching us play futbol. And yes, they are seeing a nation with all her flaws. But they are also seeing how people in Boston welcome them. How people in Seattle cheer louder than most thought was possible. From sea to shining sea.

I hope the U.S. wins on Monday night in Seattle. But you know what? Even if we do not, fans will still show up and cheer on whoever is playing as part of this massive four-year spectacle. We will be cheering for the underdog every game. That is who we are.

The Courage to Keep Going

As I raise a glass to the U.S. of A. today on her 250th birthday, I am blessed to have been able to grow up here. To watch and learn what it is like to be flawed, scared, tired. But also excited. Anxious for possibility. Knowing that the only limits to what I can do or be rely on my own determination and grit.

I have always loved the quote from Churchill: "Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm."

That is America to me.

We do not win every time. We fail a lot. But no one will keep us down. We'll get back up every time and give it another go. And yes, "The Power of Love can beat the love of Power." It's what we fought against 250 years ago.

Happy 250th, America.