America as an idea? That's a quaint, but receding, fantasy

America is not a plot of land. It is not a culture. It is not a nationality. It is not a set of traditions or customs. It is not a government. It is not a people. It is not a book of laws. And it certainly isn't a race.

America is an idea.

That's why anyone can become an American. Embrace the idea (and fill out a few forms) and you're an American.

You're one of us.

Most other nations are nationalities. Their heritage depends on blood and territory. America is portable. We carry it around in our hearts and minds.

If you bomb our cities, you can't destroy America. If you ruin our economy, you can't destroy America. If most of the continent falls into the ocean, you can't destroy America. Even if you kill most of us, you can't destroy America.

Because wherever two or more of us are gathered in her name...America is there.

Here is the secret: We don't live in America. America lives in us.

America is an idea.

My take:

This is a valuable insight, one reason being that some of our most serious problems arise because we steadfastly ignore it.

This land is flooded with illegal immigrants because the prevailing liberal ethic says that everybody who wants to come here should be welcomed, regardless of their intent. As a result, we have immigrant muslims trying to blow up our buildings and bridges and first-generation muslims going to the Middle East to learn how to do terrorism.

Why is this happening? Because muslim immigrants don't, by and large, embrace the idea of America. They see America as an eventual conquest for Islam, and long for the day sharia law is in place.

By treating our heritage irresponsibly, we have, in fact, largely let go of the "idea" of America. If we don't change course, it will eventually be a distant memory.

Contrary to the author's claim, America can be destroyed. There is lots of evidence that it is being destroyed. Not everybody who comes to these shores is smitten with the "idea." Even a powerful idea will die if it is not passed on and reenforced.

Is there a public school treacher in America who would dare to teach America-as-an-idea in the classroom?