Follow the beating to Washington, D.C. On any given day, there are dozens of protestors outside President Obama’s headquarters, pacing the cool concrete. If you happen to go by there anytime soon, thank them.  They are brave enough to stand tall in front of the government, ensuring the law is what the people want. Even with our lenient government, it takes allegiance and heart to do the things, protestors do everyday. Our nation is what it is, thanks to the dedicated activists who believe in change. It is not as easy as one might think to have an effective protest. The sun will not shine bright just because they are out there, the wind will not stop blowing because they are on the sidewalk, and the rain will not stop pelting just because their faces are numb.

Leave the battered protesters behind, and dance to the beat down to your local high school.  Look at all the students being turned away. Oh, wait - my mistake. There are not any. If you are wondering why, you obviously did not grow up in the United States of America. You see, in this miracle we call the USA, every person has a given right to equal education. In the year 2000, there were 76.6 million students enrolled in grades kindergarten through twelve in public schooling systems alone. Higher education for all means not only a smarter nation as a whole, but more chances for individuals to succeed. An education opens up more possibilities for jobs and a prosperous society. We all have the chance to open our minds to the world. The teachers in America are some of the most respectable people in our society. They deal with belligerent students on a daily basis, who have no real understanding of the privileges given to them. Even with unruly students, teachers stand at the front of the room, helping you understand your past, your current circumstances, and your imminent and hopeful future. I dare you to tell me that there is not a tempo that can make our grand nation thrive.

Embrace the thumping of our caring nation and stroll down the street in Small Town, USA.  Can you picture it packed with people, all sporting light pink t-shirts? Even in a town with a population as small as 505, people do everything they can to support a cause greater than themselves.  The chilly air that day was not a friend to the populace begging to be warmed, but they were out there anyway.  The roar of a thousand feet hitting the pothole-spotted streets as they tried to complete their five K walk was a resonance to admire, and the compassion radiating from the community was impossible to oversee.

Pursue the pulsation to a local homeless shelter. Why yes, America does have places for people less fortunate to live. How spectacular! It takes everyday heroes to get these up, and to keep them going. Citizens of all ages sacrifice their time and energy to facilitate the disadvantaged persons of this great land.  The sympathy for these people overtakes the want or need to do other things, such as watch television, listen to your favorite music, or play video games. 

Can you hear it now? Can you hear the hope pulsing through our entire country? There are heroes around every corner in America, not just on a few big intersections. While others may say we have particular groups of heroes, I say every aspect of American life demonstrates some sort of heroism. No matter where in the world you are, you cannot escape the rhythm of freedom.

When is the right time to honor our military?

by Ty Hanson

I think the time to honor our military is all of the time. Yes, there are days that are set aside to remember them, but we should always honor the men and women of our military. Some of the days that we honor our military are: Pearl Harbor Day, Sept. 11, Memorial Day and Veterans Day. We are lucky to have such a great military in our country.

I greatly respect the men and women of the military. You have to be courageous, fit, and have a brave heart. I’m proud to have such a strong military. If it weren’t for them, we would not have our freedom. They stop terrorists from attacking our country. The military is always improving technology to help them in time of need.

One of the many ways to honor them is the eternal flame at Arlington Cemetery. According to arlingtoncemetery.org, the cemetery is 200 acres and there are more than 300,000 people buried there. Three unknown service men are buried at the Tomb of the Unknown. Guards who are specially trained members of the third U.S. infantry guard the tomb 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Each unknown soldier received the Medal of Honor at burial. "HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN KNOWN BUT TO GOD" is the quote on the marble tomb. More than four million visitors come to the Arlington Cemetery each year.

Another way of remembering our military is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. According to thewall-usa.com there are 58,261 names listed on the wall. Almost 1,200 of these people are listed as missing. Nine million dollars was raised to pay for the construction of the memorial. The purpose of this memorial was to bring honor and recognition to the men and women who served and gave their lives in Vietnam. About 2.4 million people visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall each year.

You can tell that people respect the military by the way they visit the memorials in such great numbers.