The overlay of the World Cup and the United States’ birthday celebration has yielded more than a little cultural cross-pollination. Soccer fans from all over the globe descending on the U.S. have had their eyes opened wide to life in the States. Many of them marvel at the size of America, meaning primarily food portions and capitalism a la Buc-ee’s and Bass Pro Shops.
More than a few of them are seeing with their own eyes what they only imagined about America back home and comparing how those long-held visions square with reality. Most seem impressed not only by the size of our burgers but the warmth of our welcome — all this, mind you, while only experiencing metropolitan areas not always known for their friendliness. Let some of them drift into the Southern heartland and watch them find out what hospitality is really all about.
The United States of America is still something of a whippersnapper. WorldAtlas, among others, listed the oldest nations on earth and the top 10’s lineage dates back before the birth of Christ, most of them by more than 1,000 years. In Europe, the four oldest nations appeared in years with only three digits, and the 10 oldest came into existence by 1500. Compared to that, the USA is a veritable toddler.
Yet as the saying goes, it is not the length of your lineage that counts. It is how you use it, and on that measure, no nation has done more to advance humanity than America. From throwing off global oppressors to lifting people up through commerce to the right to think, speak and worship as we choose, the American way of life we have borne and paid for dearly.
It is easy to forget how special America is on this planet; in fact, it is almost fashionable to deride the USA from within for any number of reasons. Ironically, it is this criticism that is the strongest endorsement of the country itself. Few places on the globe allow such freedom of speech or expression today, and at the time of America’s founding, there were virtually none. The very fact that one can publicly badmouth the U.S. — or engage in peaceful protest, write a magazine article or pray as thou will — and not disappear or languish in prison is proof enough of her enduring greatness among nations.
This July, may we exercise our right to party as only we can. The following pages illustrate some of the things going on in Arkansas and beyond to help fuel the revelry.
Let’s get loud, Arkansas.
• Marking the Moment: Arkansas250 Commission celebrates historic anniversary
• Tour the Natural State — Enjoy Arkansas attractions 190 ways
• Fly It High, Fly It Right: U.S. Flag Code helps patriots give Old Glory the respect it is due
• Where Everybody Knows Your Name: VFW Post 9095 gives vets a place to be vets
