What is America?

Pondering the day after the fourth...here are some thoughts

after all what is america?
is it secure borders, money-filled pockets, suburban homes cloistered away from poverty, hurt, and pain?

our news media spatters images of the floundering economy, rising gas and food prices...the collapsing housing market...china's takeover of US international trade...wars over oil, resources, and security overseas
is america really any of these things?...
that which consumes MOST of our attention
and most of our politicians' time?

or is it something else entirely?
something deeper?
somehow i think many have lost a sense of who we are as a nation

what is it that makes america great?
is it our apparent material greatness?
or is it what america supposedly stands for?
freedom?
life?
the ability to pursue the right thing?
social mobility?
the ability to have one's voice heard?...
to have a government that represents one's own interests?

america is only great when it realizes that its greatness lies not in its own strength
but in the fact that it stands for something much greater
our question is, though, how much does america really stand for such a thing anymore?