The De-Americanization of our Children

Being from South Texas, the quote “I wish Americans loved America as much as Texans love Texas” is one I take great pride in repeating; it’s hard to imagine any greater love than a Texan has for their homeland. But after seriously contemplating the meaning, the depressing realization began to sink in. . .we have come to a point in our society when it is necessary to encourage people to be proud Americans. The disheartening feeling only became worse as I spoke with a couple whose child had attended a liberal arts college several years back. As I listened to them unravel the story of how they had raised their child, I could hear the heartbreak in the mother’s voice as she spoke of a complete stranger that returned from college. How does four years of college dismantle eighteen years of parenting so quickly?

Since when is it wrong to be a proud American? We live in the greatest nation on Earth, a nation that people keep flocking to in order to escape oppression and persecution from their own countries, and yet our children are being influenced by strangers, not to mention the constant barrage of manipulations from the internet, to question the upbringing and respect for their family and country. There was a time when such instigators were tried for treason, a crime that was punishable by death, and while some people in this day and age may try to sugar coat it with the use of politically correct terms, it’s still treason, and yes, it is still a crime.

This is not the first time we’ve had to fight this battle, either, or to this extent. For those old enough to remember “the committee”, proving yourself to be a model American was considered necessary to filter out those among us seeking to destroy the American way of life. Even if you were able to prove yourself worthy in the end, your reputation was already damaged, and there was no coming back from it. While it would be considered outmoded in today’s society, and rightfully so, there are certain aspects that we need to re-engage, especially as parents: we should pay close attention to our children’s lives, the friends they keep, the groups they participate in, the education they receive, and the educators behind it. Diverse social circles and education are important, but when those in the system begin to tear down the belief structure we worked so hard to instill in our children, it’s time to step in and remind them of their place.

Remember that our enemies now live among us, and as such, it is our responsibility to be vigilant in keeping our children safe, but also in teaching them to be true Americans. In the great words of Ronald Reagan, “We’re blessed with the opportunity to stand for something—for liberty and freedom and fairness. And these are things worth fighting for, worth devoting our lives to.”