America at 250: The United States has been blessed

OPINION:

It’s been said that to be born in America is to win the lottery of life – and I couldn’t agree more.

Thanks to the genius of our founding fathers, the sacrifice of generations of patriots, and the fortitude of our constitutional order, this upstart nation not only survived for 250 years; it became the freest, wealthiest, and most powerful country in world history.

As a Christian, I can’t help but feel that Providence had a hand in this, just as I am firmly convinced that the Judeo-Christian values that underpin our constitutional order have been essential to our nation’s success.

The idea that all human beings are endowed with certain unalienable, God-given rights is a fundamentally biblical concept. So too is the recognition of the fallen nature of mankind and the determination never to make government an idol, but rather the servant of a free and self-governing people.

That conviction distinguished us from the European monarchies of the 18th and 19th centuries and the communist and fascist dictatorships of the 20th century – and it’s what we must always maintain if we wish to live in freedom.

President Ronald Reagan reminded us that “freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” We must remain firmly grounded in our founding principles and ready to defend them both domestically and internationally.

We became the greatest nation on Earth by unapologetically defending our freedoms, securing peace through military strength, free markets and free trade, and by seeking out alliances that bolster these successes. History shows us that when we abandon that calling, global chaos inevitably follows.

Our foreign policy must be based on the conviction that our system isn’t just worth defending, but that America is a gift and a beacon to the world. There are nihilistic voices on both the left and the right that seek to deny or undermine our exceptionalism. This is the road to ruin.

At a time when so many of our Western allies sadly seem committed to a path of managed decline and self-loathing, the vast majority of Americans continue to believe in the values that made this country great and are prepared to sacrifice for it. They are the ones who will ensure that this country continues to flourish.

As secretary of state, I had the privilege of representing America in some of the least free nations on Earth. I’ve seen up close what happens to societies that do not possess our First Amendment rights, and I’ll never take for granted those fundamental freedoms to speak, worship and live as we see fit.

With freedom under attack around the world, we have both an interest and a moral obligation to defend these essential liberties at home and abroad: from defending victims of religious persecution, like the Christians of Nigeria and Muslim Uyghurs of China, to standing up for the rights of the Iranian people to determine their own destiny.

A strong America that upholds its values and deters its enemies is the best guarantor of freedom at home and abroad.

As we mark our 250th birthday, let us also rededicate ourselves to ensuring that the country we bequeath to our children and grandchildren remains grounded in our founders’ vision of self-reliance and ordered liberty. As Alexis de Tocqueville observed, “The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.”

This is the spirit we must marshal to confront problems ranging from the threat from China to our out-of-control national debt, so that the next generation is not deprived of their chance at the American dream.

While I’m clear-eyed about these problems, I still believe that America’s best days are in front of us and not behind us. Only if we lose confidence in ourselves and begin to doubt that we are worthy of what God has bestowed upon us can we lose our republic.

I don’t believe we will squander this. Why? Not because we will elect great presidents or great congressmen (sometimes we will and sometimes less so — and we will disagree on which is which). And not because the Supreme Court will always get it right or because journalists will suddenly become unbiased.

No, I believe in the next 250 years of American greatness because of the American people and their grit, determination and character. They run for city council or school board. They give $10 to the Little League team to buy new bats. They make dinner for their church’s Wednesday chili dinner. They start small companies and work their tails off. They protect their families and nurture their children.

These are the causes of American exceptionalism and they are unchanged. These things are unique to our American experiment.

As President George Washington said, “No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency.”

God has blessed this great nation for the past 250 years; may He continue to bless America for the next 250.

• Mike Pompeo served as the 70th secretary of state of the United States.