By Joey Lauer

I believe in America. America is the leader of the free world, the strongest military power, and a beacon of freedom for the world. America is great, and I’m not afraid to admit it.

There is no need to apologize for our greatness. We set the bar high to be an example for other nations to follow. We are a protector of world order, and we value freedom above all else. America strives to do what is right.

America makes mistakes, and we are certainly not perfect. There are always things to work on, and challenges to overcome. But I still have pride in my country. I have confidence that we will succeed.

I find that people tend to lack spirit and patriotism for their country. They get bogged down in our problems, and fail to see the beauty of America. It’s all a state of mind. Take pride in your country! America is great only because of the people who live here — they strive for excellence and believe in their nation.

America is first in my mind. I am so proud to be a citizen of the greatest nation in the world. It is such a blessing to call it my home and I will never deny the greatness of the people that live here. Don’t be afraid to remember our heritage– the people who have worked before us to create such a great nation. Remember the founders and the principles they enacted. Remember the immigrants who built this nation from the ground up. Remember the soldiers that gave you freedom. But most of all, believe in excellence. Believe in America.