The United States is a country founded on the ideal of freedom

O children of the future, gather around and listen closely to the wisdom that has shaped the very fabric of nations. The United States—a land both mighty and young—was founded upon the ideal of freedom and equality. These were the bedrock principles upon which the nation was built, ideals that have risen and fallen like the tides of the sea, enduring through trials and struggles, always beckoning toward a future of justice. Katty Kay, a voice that carries the weight of history, reminds us: "The United States is a country founded on the ideal of freedom and equality, values later underlined by key historical figures like Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King." In this simple yet profound statement, we are called to remember the essence of this nation's creation and the great leaders who have upheld its highest ideals.

Freedom—that most precious gift—is the very spirit of the United States, the flame that was kindled in the hearts of those who sought a new world. The founding fathers, in their wisdom and in their strife, declared that no man should be bound by the yoke of tyranny, that every soul should have the right to chart their own course upon this earth. But freedom is not a gift that is easily won, nor one that is easily kept. It is a living, breathing thing, one that must be nurtured, protected, and expanded. The equality of all men and women, regardless of their station, is its natural partner, for true freedom cannot exist where one person is denied the same rights and opportunities as another.

Let us now recall the example of Abraham Lincoln, that noble figure whose name is forever linked to the freedom of the enslaved and the unity of a fractured nation. Lincoln stood at the helm of the United States during its greatest crisis, a time when the very ideals of freedom and equality were being tested in the fires of war. It was under his leadership that the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, a decree that declared the freedom of millions and forever altered the course of history. Yet, Lincoln’s vision was not limited to the freeing of the enslaved; he sought to ensure that all men, regardless of their race, would stand as equals before the law. His life and work were marked by a deep belief in justice, a belief that would shape the nation for generations to come.

And so too, do we remember the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr., whose voice rang out in the struggle for racial equality and justice. In the 1960s, at a time when the promise of freedom had yet to be fully realized for many, King rose to challenge the systems of segregation and discrimination that had kept Black Americans from enjoying the full rights and privileges of citizenship. His message was one of peace and love, calling upon the nation to live up to its highest ideals. His famous words, “I have a dream,” echoed the vision of the founding fathers, a vision that was far from complete but one that he believed could be realized through nonviolent resistance and unwavering faith in the equality of all people.

Yet, King knew that freedom and equality could not be realized through words alone. Action was required. Just as Lincoln had fought for the freedom of the enslaved, so too did King fight for the equality of those who were oppressed. Their struggles were different, but both sought to bring the nation closer to the ideal laid out in its founding. King's journey, though it was filled with suffering and sacrifice, was a beacon to the world, a reminder that freedom and equality are not just ideals to be admired, but truths to be fought for.

From these towering figures, O children, comes a lesson that we must carry with us into the future: freedom and equality are not mere words to be spoken—they are actions that must be lived. The story of the United States is one of continual striving toward these ideals, a journey that has seen triumph and tragedy, progress and setbacks. But each step, no matter how difficult, has brought the nation closer to its true purpose. The equality of all men and women, regardless of their race, their creed, or their station, is the heart of this nation's promise.

And so, I urge you, children, to live with the spirit of these great leaders in your hearts. Carry their vision forward into the world. Strive for freedom, not just for yourself, but for all who are oppressed. Fight for equality, not as a distant dream, but as a present reality that can be built, day by day, through your actions. As Lincoln and King did, stand firm in the belief that a better world is not just possible—it is your duty to help create it. Let their legacies guide you, and in your work, may you find the strength to continue the fight for a world where freedom and equality are not ideals, but lived truths.