Perspectives on the American Spirit

As Individual As We Are

With the coming of America’s 250th anniversary, reflections on our country’s present and past strike a bit deeper than the usual July 4th celebrations. The American spirit isn’t something you can point to or define with a single phrase. It lives in quiet acts of kindness, leaps of faith, hard work, hope, and the freedom to chart one’s own path. It can be found in celebrations and struggles alike, carrying a different meaning for every person who experiences it.

To explore those different perspectives, we invited a few members of our community to answer one question: “What does the American spirit mean to you?” Their words offer a reminder that, while our experiences may differ, each voice adds another thread to the American story.

In Our Neighbors’ Words

Here are just a few answers to our question about the American spirit:

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Freedom and fairness within the rule of law. A generous spirit of responsible give and take.

Mary MacMichael

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For me the American spirit is about being able to dream your own future and work toward that dream. It’s about respecting the law, respecting others’ beliefs, and having compassion for all human beings.

Tim Henderson

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To me, the American spirit means freedom from despotism, oligarchy, demagoguery, and theocracy. The American spirit guided the founders of this country to build a society premised on the rule of law, not the rule of man. We exhibit that same spirit today by opposing the consolidation of power among a few elites; by standing up for the prescient system of governmental checks and balances; and by respecting the rights, equality, and dignity of all people.

Jack West

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I feel the American spirit when I read through my grandfather’s WWII flight logbook from the Pacific Theater. The stories never told are filled with mystery and valor, inspiring in me a perpetual sense of wonder and awe.

Katie Hand

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What I love about the American spirit is the collective energy that can emerge when people unite around shared ideals — like the electric atmosphere of a concert where thousands gather in agreement on the same subject and synchronize in purpose, creating excitement, comfort, and joy.

When Americans align on that foundational idea, which is the cornerstone of our country’s conception that makes this nation great, that agreement generates a contagious, monumental force that’s both exhilarating and deeply connective. The spirit is fueled by the idea that greater are the ties that bind us than the divisions that separate us.

Lee Bailey

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The American Spirit to me: It’s embodied in the Greatest Generation (our parents or grandparents) who left their homes & families to fight in World War II to save the world from tyranny.

Sandra and Tommy Cobb

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The American Spirit means to live in a country where individuals can lift themselves up, but even more so with the help of friends, neighbors and a willing, compassionate government.

Frank Kenney

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When I think about the American spirit, I think about my family. I come from a military family, and my mother was English. Becoming an American citizen was one of the proudest moments of her life. She, along with my father, instilled in us a deep sense of pride in the red, white, and blue and an appreciation for the opportunities this country provides.

To me, the American spirit is about possibility. It’s about the belief that with hard work, determination, and a little courage, you can build something meaningful.

What better example of that than my own journey? Only in America could a commercial advertising photographer and a restaurateur decide to open a lodge in a small town like Mentone, Alabama, and have people choose to spend their vacations with us. Folks come here from all over the country and UK to celebrate milestones, reconnect with loved ones, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Every time a guest chooses to spend their time at Andiamo, I am reminded of the opportunities this country offers to dreamers, entrepreneurs, and anyone willing to take a chance on an idea.

That, to me, is the American spirit: freedom, opportunity, hard work, and the ability to create something that brings people together. My parents believed in that spirit, my mother chose it when she became an American citizen, and I am grateful to live it every day.

Colleen Duffley

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To me, the American spirit is deeply personal. As I take in the incredible vast beauty of America, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I know that the liberty to enjoy this country was fought for and secured by my own ancestors in the Revolutionary War, and I carry their legacy with me every day to pass down for the next generations.

Becca Mizel

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The American spirit, to me, is about showing up, working hard, and doing right by others no matter where you come from. It’s grit, faith, and looking out for your community. It’s believing you can build something better, not just for yourself, but for the people around you.

Nathan Austin

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The American spirit is adventurous, full of hope, conquering challenges with determination and hard work. It means looking out for your neighbors in a spirit of unity that is without malice and always believing that tomorrow will be a better day.

Joan Byrum

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We mustn’t go backward in time. We need to keep moving forward, but we do need to get back to some of our old American values and ideals. We used to treat each other as equals and have the same opportunities. Part of the American experience is government by the people, but we have lost that. We need to get money out of politics.

Lonnie Dillenbeck

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The U.S. Constitution, in its preamble, contains the defining principle, “…in Order to form a more perfect Union…” Take inspiration from this. The experiment is 250 years old, but it is not finished. It is incumbent on each one of us to contribute. Here’s to the next 250!

Hank Van Apeldoorn

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One component of the American spirit is perseverance in the face of uncertainty. The past appears certain because it’s in the books, but at every moment along the way, from the Founding Fathers to the present moment, no one knew how things would turn out. We still don’t.

Jay Robbins

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There would be no America or American spirit without someone to defend it. We owe our servicemen and women. This holiday will be a time to get family together, some of whom may be military. We need to do more to support them.

Gerald Bailey

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A strong wind blowing to the West. The strength of the American people.

Adelaide Drennen

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I think the American Spirit should be a beacon to the world for liberty, freedom, and democracy.

R. Ganguet

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I have a friend who is keenly observant and engages remarkably with all strangers whom she comes across, and I’ve seen the impact. My friend says we all are so polarized right now she feels the need to reach out like this. THIS is the American spirit — inclusion. I plan to emulate Alyce’s/America’s spirit more going forward.

The American spirit is also about celebrating our diversity. More than any other country on earth, valuing diversity is what makes us unique and rich.

Mary Ann Robbins

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We are so grateful for these contributions. Together, these reflections illustrate that the American spirit is an evolving one, shaped by individual journeys, strengthened through community, and renewed with each generation. Perhaps its ultimate defining characteristic is its ability to mean something deeply personal to everyone while still connecting us all.