As a Cuban immigrant who arrived in the United States as a child, I immediately noticed the stark differences between the two countries. In America, politics was not a topic of conversation, it was considered dull and uninteresting. People went about their business calmly, trusting that others would do the right thing. The concept of the “right of way” seemed abstract to me, as pedestrians confidently crossed the street in front of moving cars. Even today, I struggle to adopt this practice. The rules of social life were understood and internalized, leaving individuals to navigate their own paths. It seemed as though freedom was ingrained in the American people, so deeply rooted that it went unnoticed.
The question of American exceptionalism often arises, and when asked, Barack Obama compared it to the exceptionalism believed by the British and Greeks. However, I believe that the United States truly stands apart from other countries. It’s not just who we are as a nation, but the unique path that led us here. Every American today benefits from an extraordinary history that can be attributed to luck or destiny. Those who came before us defied probability and faced challenges head-on, ultimately granting us the easygoing freedom to confidently challenge moving cars as pedestrians.
Let’s start at the beginning. The Revolution could have easily gone awry if it weren’t for the generation of Founders and Framers who, through their remarkable political brilliance, fought and won a war against the greatest power on Earth. They also constructed a government framework that has stood the test of time for 235 years. These men were both tough-minded and pragmatic, leaving behind an ideology of individual freedom that still influences our politics today.
It’s disheartening to see how George Washington is remembered today—slavery, bad teeth, and a mere face on the dollar bill. However, Washington’s true legacy lies in his unwavering character and voluntary relinquishment of power. Unlike other great men of his caliber, such as Napoleon and Simón Bolívar, Washington chose not to grasp onto power but instead returned to a humble life as a farmer at Mount Vernon. This choice was unusual, unlikely, and truly exceptional.
The Civil War had the potential to result in a power struggle that would consume and divide the nation. Yet, Abraham Lincoln intertwined a profound moral dimension into the war, believing that the preservation of human freedom was at stake. His second inaugural address stands as a towering moral document, evoking elements of Greek tragedy and biblical wisdom. Lincoln was certainly an uncommon politician. Whenever the nation faced times of need, other remarkable individuals stepped forward. Franklin Roosevelt restored faith in representative democracy during the Great Depression, while Ronald Reagan’s unwavering belief that “we win, they lose” brought an end to the Cold War. During the fight against Jim Crow segregation, instead of seeking revenge and hatred, we were blessed with the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr., a magnificently eloquent preacher who practiced nonviolence and forgiveness. These individuals tapped into the American ideology of freedom, paving the way for national healing.
Even our industrialists and innovators have been exceptional. American manufacturers aimed their goods at the ordinary citizen, the consumer, rather than only targeting the government or the wealthy. This virtuous cycle created a stronger economy, benefiting both employees and millionaire CEOs. The ideology of freedom permeated the economic domain, allowing for widespread prosperity.
Critics of consumerism often fail to recognize its true value. I recall a story of a Cuban woman who, upon entering a supermarket in Miami, burst into tears when faced with the abundance of goods. She realized that the opposite of consumerism is not authenticity, but rather penury, scarcity, and hunger. In America, we are fortunate to face problems rooted in abundance. This amazing history belongs to every American, including myself as an immigrant. I have internalized the evolution of freedom that the United States represents. It’s not just the heritage of Mayflower descendants; it’s a legacy that I hold dear, knowing all too well the alternative to freedom.
Reflecting on my own process of Americanization, I find it intriguing. Despite my genetic roots tracing back to Spain and France, I consider Thomas Jefferson to be my forefather. He, along with Washington, Lincoln, MLK, Edison, and Jobs, provided me with the ideals and models of how a free citizen should live. Europeans question our obsession with the opinions of long-dead politicians, but our exceptionally fortunate history has shaped our deep connection with the past. I became American without even realizing it, absorbing the values and experiences that defined this great nation. My personal differences with native-born citizens felt like advantages rather than barriers. Growing up in the United States felt like an incredible adventure, as I constantly explored new perspectives in a land of infinite possibilities. Americans, by nature, are restless and lonely, constantly on the edge of a frontier, always enticed by the allure of the future. We are unsettled, and that’s a rare but honorable condition. It is crucial for Americans to understand and appreciate the exceptional luck we have to live in this amazing country.
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