I hear people speak about being ashamed of our country, presumably because we have done some bad things in our history or they believe we are an imperialist nation and have gotten rich by taking from other countries, and I just can't understand why they don't see what I see in America. I'm not saying there haven't been blemishes in our past but unlike many other nations, we've moved on or tried to become better.

Look back at our history and in our own community—what you'll see is a citizenry that is the first to help those in need. When a disaster strikes, which country is reaching into its collective pockets and sending aid, not just money but medical workers and supplies; clothing, food, whatever is needed. When an epidemic spreads, which country is the first to help? When a people are being oppressed, who sends its men and women to free them?

That's because we, the American citizens, are a good people with big hearts. Just look at some of the stories you'll read about here in the Beat; W&N Enterprises holds its 11th annual Thanksgiving dinner for less fortunate community members. Marines gatherdonated toys for the Toys for Tots drive to give to others. Federated Republican Women donate books to libraries. Literacy Link donates hundreds of books each year to local schools. Habit for Humanity helps others get into homes of their own. Gospel Mission provides food and services to the poor and homeless. WNMU football helps clean up the yards of elderly residents who can no longer help themselves. I've only begun to scratch the surface.

I see other people in our community take risks and start businesses. Some succeed and some fail but they are all living the American dream, taking advantage of the opportunity. Some people start businesses out of their homes and work on the side while still maintaining their regular jobs working for someone else. But the point is that most of those people do it out of a desire to help someone or to make their lives better.

You know these people, they are your neighbors, you know what is in their hearts. They are good folks not wanting to hurt someone else, take what someone else has or to abuse others for their own profit. Why is it that we believe people we don't know are any different?

Americans are a good people at heart, we try to do the best we can with good intentions. I look around our community and while I see things I would like to change, as evidenced in other columns, I know one thing that I don't want to see change and that's the American can-do spirit that make this the most caring, giving nation on Earth.