semper fi

if you want to read an amazing post about america check out my friend danielle's blog, wow she is a beautiful writer.

i love america.  i tend to get emotional about this subject.  i am so blessed, we are so blessed. i really believe that God set apart this country for great things, amazing things.  the restoration of the gospel, the building of temples, my ability to be baptized.  every amount of happiness the gospel brings me stems from the freedoms we have been given.  america, it's beauty and diversity amazes me.

  i admire the courage that has been shown throughout the ages; the pilgrims, the founding fathers, the pioneers, those who have fought for equality among races, religions, and gender, those who answered the call to defend our freedoms during world war II, those who defend them today.  and yet we have people who criticize our decisions, the choices we make 

(and granted we have made some crappy decisions).  

however, i believe that the people who lead this country aren't perfect but america, america, you are pure.  your intentions, your thoughts, your goals; you want nothing more than to bring everyone the joy you so often feel.  the joy you felt when women received the right to vote, the joy you felt when so many of your people rushed to the aide of tsunami victims in japan,  the joy you felt when slavery was abolished, the joy that is summed up in the statement:

"all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

and how amazing is it that "we hold these truths self-evident"?  it's no wonder so many want to come and partake of the joy that america has to offer.  the joy i feel when i attend school, the joy i feel when i go to work, when i read the book of mormon, the joy that comes from being able to put on a swim suit and dive into the pool, drive a car, own a gun, write on a blog. 

america, you are beautiful.