Opinion : Letter to the Editor: What is an “American”?

Dear Editor, 

In a response to one of my recent musings on this Opinion Page I was asked how I could consider myself an American. An interesting question asked of a person exercising his most basic of all individual rights set down in our nation’s Bill of Rights – expressing his opinion in a public forum. But, what the heck – let’s drill down on the reasons that I believe I am, indeed, an American.

There’s birthright of course. I was born American to parents who were American. So, there’s that. But I believe the idea of Americanism is considerably deeper than that. Our founders laid out a detailed road map on the fundamental concept that is “America” in our Constitution and its Bill of Rights. An American must integrate these rights into their life as well as accepting, promoting, and defending our system of government as defined and laid out in the Constitution. Period. This document is what knits us all together. If any piece of it is thrown away, our nation simply disintegrates and we go the way of the Roman Empire, the Greek Empire and become a nation ruled by the whims or our leaders that day, that month or that year. Something, in fact, that we’ve experienced in a very real way during the past two years.

I also believe that I, as an American, needed to find a way to serve my country and my community. For 21 years, as both an enlisted man and an officer, I took an oath on six different occasions to protect and defend our nation and the Constitution. I spent time from Vietnam to Panama to England while being a member both regular Air Force and Air National Guard rising from Airman Basic to Major doing exactly that. Something about “money where your mouth is” comes to mind.

I believe that I, as an American, should become educated – at my own expense – in a field that can both support myself and my family and contribute to the growth of myself, my community and my country. I did this through the path of communications and computer systems and technology and have been happily employed 40+ years until my retirement last year.

I believe that I, as an American, should offer myself as an example – imperfect though I may be. My wife of 50 years and I are active in our parish, have worked our entire lives, raised a family and are in the process of learning how to “retire”. I find my wife is much more successful at that than I.

I believe that I, as an American, should find a way to be in service to our community. I’ve tried to do that through my participation in the Izaak Walton League, our local and regional Scouting community and by having a local business for nearly 40 years.

I believe that I, as an American, should offer friendship and a helping hand to anyone who needs a friend or a hand. We are all “in this” together. We rise and fall together. We are either all “Americans” or we are a bunch of disparate tribes all seeking to gain power to rule all other tribes. And that would mark the end of America.

I believe that I, as an American, have a right to speak freely, gather with my friends, defend myself and my family and friends, worship as I choose, to be safe within my home from unwarranted government intrusion and that if I commit a wrong – that I have the right to a rapid and fair trial by my peers. I believe that the Constitution is set in stone – it is not a “living document” but rather a set of “guard rails” that ensure our government remains a servant of the people and not a master to be obeyed.

I believe that in today’s America our government has far exceeded their bounds as set down by the Constitution and must be reeled in. Its spending has far exceeded our nation’s ability to provide them with money. Daily we see the results of simply printing money with nothing to fundamentally support its value – inflation that is nearly out of control.

And I believe that the integrity of our elections and the election process must be secured – all the way back to paper ballots and a “purple finger” if need be. Because if we lose faith in our elections – our children and grandchildren will be left with nothing but chaos.

This . . . this right here is why, when I shave in the morning, I see an American. These are my standards for me – no one else. I’ve lived by them for 72 years. I plan on living by them until I return “home”. Each person must decide for themselves what their place in America is. And hopefully – by God’s Grace – we will continue as a great and free nation. Only time will tell.

Respectfully,

Bill Keller