Why I Have Hope For America

Last week I entered a contest answering the question, "Why Do I Have Hope For America?" It made me start thinking about what's important and what means the most to me. Here are my thoughts:



Last month I visited my oldest daughter in Branson, Missouri where she was skating in an ice show at Silver Dollar City Theme Park. The theater held about 1200 people and I slipped into the second row to watch the show. The finale number was skated to Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to be an American” a song I was so grateful to hear again. At one point in the number the skaters all formed a line across the front of the ice and turned with their backs to the audience raising their arms to the sky. Immediately, two gigantic American flags unfurled on the set. At that moment…without hesitation…1200 people rose from their seats and cheered. Show after show, day after day it never changed. It is an experience I will never forget. After a few weeks the park management had to install a carpet strip between the ice and the front row for the skaters to stand on because so many members of the audience wanted to hug them and shake their hands to thank them. So they did. The people of Branson are really no different than anywhere else. I believe people everywhere know in their hearts what’s important…what’s real. They just need to be reminded. I'm so glad I was.