The Essence of Paradise

My Webster's dictionary tells me that one of the many meanings of the word, 'essence' is...
....the inward nature of anything, underlying its manifestations; true substance...
The true substance of anything lies in the heart of the matter....
Take for instance, the good ole USA.
What is the 'heart' of the USA but its people?
We are a diversification of all the peoples of the world.....we are derived from all cultures on the face of the earth. Imagine if you will, the enormous reality of today, 2002, that we as a new, united culture, called "American", voice a pledge of commitment that says, we are "One Nation, Under God, INDIVISIBLE, with liberty and justice for ALL."
How daring our forefathers were as pioneers in this 'new land' ! Not only did they gamble with their own lives and the lives of their loved ones, they saw beyond their time and came into agreement to write a contract of unity which would be fair to every man, woman and child who followed after them.
A vision of Paradise...perhaps!
Paradise in my Websters definition has several meanings but one in particular caught my eye....

paradise: any place or condition of great happiness...any place of great beauty, or an abode of the blessed...

THIS is what our founders saw....their own paradise!
American is still the home of the free and land of the brave....9/11 proves that, again!!!
One question shouts for an answer!
Not everyone that lives in this land upholds the forefathers values that contribute meaningfully to their fellow man.
...... America has problems, people have problems.....
People are America.
But I ask you.....in your family and mine......do we all agree ALL THE TIME?
And when we disagree with each other does that exclude us from being a member of "The Family".
Never, if love is .....real.
True, too, of the good ole USA.....Politicians disagree all the time as we see in the public arena called "TV".
Does it make them 'un-American"?
Absolutely not!....
Our contract, The Constitution, gives us the 'right' and honorable means of communicating many faceted ideas among ourselves. We can do this, fairly, in order to come to a reasonable solution to any situation in the USA. And we can individually be a part of that solution by sending a representative that we agree with.....to cast our vote for us when we are not physically present as agendas are presented that affect our lives as Americans. We have a right and an obligation, as Americans, to this process.
Tell me, and those that have given their lives trying to reach our culture or land, that all of this is not the 'essence' of paradise!
Call me an 'idealist' if you wish....Websters say an idealist is a person whose behavior or thought is based on ideals: visionary or dreamer...
Could that describe.....our forefathers dream of life in "America"?
Certainly we can agree with them and each other.......
Yes, It is a Good Life....after all.

Quote from : Acres of Diamonds by Russell Conwell
"We ought to teach that, however humble a man's station may be, if he does his FULL DUTY in that place, he is JUST AS MUCH ENTITLED to the American people's honor as is ANY king upon his throne."