| My Vision Of the American Spirit As a lover of natural places and off-the-beaten-path roadways that wind their way throughout small town America … I am pleased to report that my impression of what “The American Spirit” means to me is alive and well and abounds across the country. It is the genuine love and caring that is demonstrated between people, regardless of race, religion or creed. It is the eye connection that unites like-minded individuals to one another and opens the doors of conversation between them while recognizing another kindred spirit traveling this great road called life. It is: the “heart connection” that occurs between them when they demonstrate what the “golden rule” means to them as they interact with one another in the land of the free and the brave. It is: the soul connection that makes their conversations with each other real, uplifting and encouraging. It is: the sharing of philosophies, lore and folk tales with one another. It is: the uniting of people to help one another during disasters and emergencies. It is: the reaching out, with empathy and compassion and playing some part, no matter how small, to come to the aid of their fellow man. It is: the kindred appreciation for clear, clean water, clean air and the great outdoors combined with the shared desire to preserve and protect the forests, mountains, rivers, lakes, oceans and deserts and all the flora and fauna that these places encompass. It is the shared belief that all these things deserve a “safe place” in America. It is: the shared “respect” for the Great Spirit that allows us to enjoy this Garden of Eden and will call us from here when our time has come to join our greater family in another time and place. © 2003 Joy A. Burki-Watson |
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