Most Americans today would call themselves patriots. Would you? But what does that mean…to be an American…to be a patriot? What is the basis for your self-description as a patriotic American? This is something to think about!

Words matter. Definitions matter. The way you perceive yourself matters. Is our education system producing people who know how to think, or is it producing people who are told what to think? What impact would each of these techniques have on an individual's perception of their world? Learning how to think (from the right foundation) would produce independent, freedom-seeking individuals. Being told what to think would produce obedient and dependent citizens waiting for their next instructions or government handout.

Do you think like an American? Something as basic as, "What is right?" is a profound question that needs to be approached with an absolute standard on which to base the answer. In America, that standard is called the "rule of law." Our Declaration of Independence refers to it as "the Laws of Nature and Nature's God." If we don't understand what the Founders meant by these phrases and the definition of these terms, we cannot grasp what it means to be an American.

Noah Webster wrote America's first dictionary in 1828. As a master of 27 languages, his definitions are both accurate and an excellent source for looking at life through the eyes of the founding fathers. He defined "patriotic" in part as "protecting [one's country by] maintaining its laws and institutions in vigor and purity." What is America's law? The Constitution. What is it based upon? The Laws of Nature and Nature's God. And how did Noah define this term? Simply – the 10 commandments and your God-given conscience. What a revelation! Did you know America's laws came right out of the Bible? Do you imagine the average person who calls himself a "patriot" knows this, or that he is to stand up for and protect these laws? Do our current laws reflect this standard?

So how does this relate to you, patriotism and thinking like an American? To answer this question, let's ask a couple more: What is it you hope for in your future…for yourself…for America? What matters most to you? Faith? Family? Security? Money? Medical care? No matter what you answered, all these hopes and dreams for your future relate to freedom: freedom to pursue happiness, freedom to make individual choices.

And this brings us to the most important question of all: What is the single biggest factor in your life that will determine your freedom to be able to pursue these dreams for your future? It is the type and form of government in America. It is the laws of the land and how they are upheld. Simply put, it is freedom and justice. It is living according to the Laws of Nature and Nature's God. It is adhering to the rule of law. It is "protecting [one's country by] maintaining its laws and institutions in vigor and purity."

What would America look like if we followed these standards? Would abortion be legalized? Would homosexuals be allowed to marry? Would our borders be open to all regardless of their heath profile or criminal background? Would you be able to use your own property as you desire without government permission or intrusion? Are these rhetorical questions, or can an educated, activated populace – true American patriots – recapture the vision of America and restore her to one nation under God? I believe we can.

Something to think about.    
