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October 17, 2025What Does America Stand for Today?
When you think about what the Statue of Liberty has symbolized, what does America stand for today? And what about the message it has blasted to the world for centuries?
Immigrants from countries all across the world, near and far, have come here looking for a better life, and in doing so have poured their time and talent to help build America and make it what it has come to be.
Whether they came by force or free. Whether they were duly compensated and able to build a life for their families and future generations or they had no choice but to build those opportunities for others. Sadly, some of those same immigrants who have help build this country and made myriad contributions are no longer welcome. They stand to have their American experiences and contributions marginalized, even erased.
What does America stand for today?
The political and morally corrupt actions — militarizing ICE to deport both legal and undocumented immigrants, dismantling Black history, equal rights, voting rights — are deliberate efforts to rewrite America’s history and to dictate a racially and economically homogenized future identity.
What does the Statue of Liberty mean today? What happened to the proud proclamation that America is this great melting pot, where there is opportunity to build a better life for anyone who dares to seize it? But the hollow meaning of the Statue of Liberty is not the only crisis of identity we face.
What Does America Stand for Today? (rustic/iStock Images)
What has happened to the power and function of the three branches of government that have been the bedrock of this democratic republic? The shameless displays of impotence, cowardice and capitulation by any one of the three branches of government at any given time on any given issue have demonstrated the epitome of moral and ethical bankruptcy. What does America stand for today?
The executive branch, with the issuance of executive orders, has taken and enacted unprecedented powers — gutting and dismantling departments, defunding or freezing funds previously approved by Congress, usurping and dictating states’ rights — that have not been checked or challenged. Many violate the Constitution.
When it comes to the judicial branch of government, how are its responsibilities being carried out?
What messages are being sent to the public about the Supreme Court, the court of last resort, which has been counted on to be balanced and follow the strict letter of the laws as outlined in our Constitution?
Then there is the legislative branch. Going along to get along whether it is in the best interest of the people who send them there or not. Is this how our democratic republic is supposed to function? If not, then why is it happening? What does America stand for today?
What are we, the people, to do amid this onslaught to change who America is and what she is all about, our should be about?
The real test is what we hold within us.
America’s identity ultimately resides with her people. Always has been. Always will be.
Who we become and what we continue to stand for will be no different.
Portions of this article first appeared in The Missouri Independent
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