America’s entitlement

When I think of the role Americans play in this country, I come back to a famous quote from the former president John F. Kennedy said during his inaugural address in 1961.

“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”

I feel this notion is lacking in certain contemporary political beliefs. This country needs direction and it’s critical for this generation to rise to the occasion and use our potential. However, many Americans today heavily rely on the government all the while maintaining a critical view of how the government operates. This false sense of entitlement is a dangerous approach to political beliefs and the future of our country. Instead of thankfulness for America’s enduring promise of an abundance of freedom, opportunity and potential, Americans become bogged down with what MORE the government can be doing for us. Simply stated, sometimes Americans confuse what we are truly entitled to with the rights bestowed from the Constitution. We take full advantage of the system and core American values, but we expect to reap the benefits from the government.

As college students, we have the freedom to make our own choices for our lives and to make our own decisions. We are quite blessed in the way we live retaining many modern conveniences and luxuries. However, some feel the government’s role in our lives extends from constitutional rights into how we run our private lives. Certain idealistic views are naive toward how America actually works. The Constitution does not guarantee handouts. We cannot afford to look to the government to dominate our lives or to take care of all our needs. We have much to be thankful for and our country provides us with an abundance of freedoms. However, many times the youth of America feel this country owes us something. Like Kennedy said in his speech, we should consider what we could do FOR this great country rather than what we can take from it or what we feel America owes us.

This begs the question—as Americans what are we truly owed as U.S. citizens? America is not a country of handouts or free money; it is also not a country that should restrain success. It’s not the government’s job to take care of us. It’s the government’s job to provide the nation with protection and its citizens with infrastructure.  Americans are given freedoms and opportunities to reach success without regulation or permission from the government.

This generation must look beyond how we can benefit from the government and look to how we can use our innovation, potential and talents for the greater good of our nation. We are the future of this country and we must act accordingly. We have inherited legitimate issues and this generation must be mindful of this. America needs a future generation of leaders willing to do what’s necessary to get our country back on track.

Posted by Ben Elliot on Mar 3 2011. Filed under Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.