I was taught that America is supposed to be a place where dreams are possible freedom guaranteed to anyone, regardless of race, religion, or lifestyle.
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I saw him sitting in a Starbucks, wearing skinny jeans, drinking enough caffeine to put me in a coma, to prepare for a day of glaring at a computer. I laughed. How ridiculous is this twenty-something weirdo, wearing glasses which looked just like SpongeBob SquarePants jellyfishing glasses. He probably doesn’t even have a job. He just sits in front of some screen, doing what he wants, any time he wants wherever he wants. I bet his name is Brantley.
What is wrong with him? Doesn’t he know how much people have sacrificed so that we could all live the American dream? Shouldn’t he respect the loss this country has suffered, especially during Memorial Day, where we honor those who gave everything so that we can live free, doing what we want, when we want, where we want?
But that is what Brantley was doing.
Now I am confused. This country was founded on the ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The preamble to the U.S. Constitution clearly states that our forefathers intended to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity”. I looked up the word liberty because I was sure Brantley was not doing it right, and these were the definitions I found.
- The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views.
- The quality or state of being free: the power to do as one pleases: freedom from physical restraint: freedom from arbitrary or despotic control: the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privileges.
But those things aren’t the American dream, are they? Didn’t men die so we could watch over-the-top political rallies, yell at the screen whenever the “other” news network is on and write, ad nauseam, about how bad the political climate is. Aren’t we thankful that brave soliers died so we can continue opening the chasm between the left and right side of the aisle?
Or am I wrong?
Did the forefathers imagine a country where we spent our day, providing for ourselves and our families doing the things we are good at, using whatever is available to get what we need and spending our time enjoying our lives? Isn’t that what Brantley was doing?
There has been no political party that advanced this workplace revolution. There hasn’t been a politician who wrote a bill making workplace freedom a right to every American and there were no tax cuts that pumped money into this changing marketplace.
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When 209,000 brave soldiers died at Normandy, did they envision a future where mothers and fathers spent the majority of the day doing work that another person told them to do? 620,000 soldiers died in the Civil War, fighting for what they thought the country should be. Did they think they were fighting so we could ask permission from someone else to spend time doing what we want, enjoying time with family or going where we please? If we could show the brave heroes who gave everything this new ability to work how we want, when we want, would they say “That’s silly,” or would they say “That’s worth fighting for, that’s what I want for my kids” or “that is life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”.
During this Memorial Day season we are entangled in one of the most heated, dirty, divisive, sickening political climates of my lifetime. I don’t believe the country has a presidential candidate for which we can support 100%. Many of us are not voting for someone, we are voting against someone. And as we wrap ourselves in tax returns, Benghazi, socialism, racism and controversy, the millennials are quietly (and successfully) pursuing life, liberty and happiness.
There has been no political party that advanced this workplace revolution. There hasn’t been a politician who wrote a bill making workplace freedom a right to every American and there were no tax cuts that pumped money into this changing marketplace.
It was Brantley.
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Brantley was given the opportunity to do what he was good at, in a place he liked to be, for as much or as little time as he liked. He was given the chance to make an amount of money that he felt was appropriate. He was offered the tools to make his contribution available and valuable to the world. More importantly, while we bickered and argued about how the country should be run, Brantley was making the most of this opportunity.
Do you hold these truths to be self-evident, that we are all created equal, with unalienable rights to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness?
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I doubt people intended to die for the right to drink expensive coffee, dress horribly (sorry, I can’t back you guys up on your wardrobe) and make millions only working three hours a day. But I have been taught, and have read myself, over and over, that our country is supposed to be a place where dreams are possible. That America should stand as a bastion of freedom to anyone, regardless of race, religion or lifestyle. That people do anything they can to get into this country because opportunities are everywhere, thanks to the sacrifice of so many.
During this time of year we remember those who lost so much so we could have what we do, but ask yourself this question. Do you hold these truths to be self-evident, that we are all created equal, with unalienable rights to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness?
Because Brantley does.
Also by John Henderson
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Photo: Getty Images