Proud to be an American

This excerpt was shared by my dear friend, Jerry Kyle, who is CEO of Platinum Bank.

It is my right to be uncommon. If I can, I seek opportunity, not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.

I want to take the calculated risk, to dream and to build, to fail and succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole…I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence, the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia.

I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master not bend to any threat.

It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid, to thinking and act for myself, enjoy the benefits of my creations and to face the world boldly and say… this I have done.

ALL THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE  ******AN AMERICAN******

—Rewritten excerpt of poem by Thomas Paine – 1776