My brother forwarded the video below to me about two weeks ago. You may have seen it. If you have not, I encourage you to watch it. If you have, I encourage you to watch it again.

Being an American is not a cake walk. For most of us, even the rich and the very rich, it is hard. Sometimes very hard. Being an American means hard work to succeed. It is what made America great for as long as it has been. I believe it will remain great because Americans, at the core, cannot accept long-term mediocrity. We sometimes let our attention wane, as a child in school, but then our interest is piqued and we remember our intense energy.

The events of 911 turned our hearts back to greatness briefly. I believe debt on each American adult will finally grind them down to remember frugality and industry. I know it has in my own case.

The simple strength of America comes from our labor. It is a simple concept. If I and my family can produce just a little more than I consume, then I have helped the economy grow and have helped myself to succeed. If every individual did the same, then the economy and our personal, individual well-being improves. If we, as a community of people--not government--can help enhance or enrich the lives of the weak to the point that they can produce equal to or greater than what they consume, then we have no poor among us.

We specialize as a individuals, we generalize as a society. It may be that one man can move thousands of tons of bread with his truck and racks. But the same man cannot thread a needle or stitch a garment. Yet if he can provide bread for many, she who may only be able to thread enough needles is able to eat. Therefore, the two questions I ask myself is "Can I produce more?" and "Can I create opportunity so someone else can produce more?" If each of us as individuals, business owners, civil servants, and church  and community leaders ask the same questions, then our community and our nation increase our greatness.

The question is why. When we seek to build not only myself, when I produce more to enlarge the opportunity of someone else to produce more, when I seek to prosper by building a wider tent, then and only then can the efforts of my community actually benefit me. This cannot be forced. This cannot be taken and given to another. It is not a matter of allocation of resources. It is matter of creating resources.You and I are the force for good on this earth. Although we can take some of our spare time for pleasure, it is our strong, selfless efforts with bring us the opportunity for joy.

With that, I encourage you to view this video, one of the most eloquent speeches about American Greatness.