I cherish my country and feel fortunate to have been born in the United States. The privileges that come with American citizenship and the freedoms laid out in our Constitution are not lost on me. However, I don’t believe my birthplace grants me any special status. I don’t think America is inherently more worthy of security, prosperity, or safety than any other nation. In fact, the notion that we should isolate ourselves from the rest of the world is misguided, and I believe the message of “America first” is not one we should impart to our children.
The common retort to this perspective is, “Don’t you always put your family first?” While this may seem reasonable, it presents a couple of key issues. First, prioritizing family comes from a biological instinct, which is fundamentally different from a nationalistic view. Second, I don’t always believe family should come first. When my family is in a better position than others, I would prioritize helping those in need over my own comfort.
Take, for example, the scene from “Little Women” where the March sisters decide to deliver their Christmas dinner to a family in greater need. They weren’t wealthy, yet they chose to prioritize others over their own desires. That’s the kind of selflessness I want to nurture in my children. I want them to be compassionate and to extend their help beyond just those who share our nationality.
If we equate “America first” with “My family first,” it’s a slippery slope to “Me first.” And “Me first” is a mindset I do not want my children to adopt. Moreover, “America first” fosters an unhealthy us-versus-them mentality based on superficial connections. The idea that individuals born within certain man-made borders are somehow more valuable than those born outside them is illogical.
I was raised to view myself as a global citizen, part of a broader human family. I believe that healthy patriotism is commendable, but unchecked nationalism can be detrimental. That is the ethos I aim to instill in my kids.
If America were facing severe hardships, my feelings about “America first” might shift. If your family were starving, survival instinct would kick in, making it difficult to help others. However, we are not in that situation. The United States ranks as the ninth richest nation globally, with the largest economy among the top ten. We have the most powerful military and spend more on national defense than the next seven countries combined. Crime rates have decreased significantly since the 1990s. Yes, national debt is a concern, but we are not in a position of destitution.
When someone brings up, “But what about our homeless veterans?” it’s worth noting that significant progress has been made. Between 2009 and 2014, veteran homelessness dropped by an impressive 67.4%. New Orleans even became the first major city to declare the end of veteran homelessness in January 2015. Contrary to popular belief, these issues aren’t as insurmountable as they seem.
Think of it this way: we live in a comfortable house with a few repairs needed. When a family arrives at our door during a blizzard, are we really going to turn them away because we haven’t fixed our roof yet? Are we unwilling to share a meal with someone starving just because they aren’t “our problem”?
In our increasingly interconnected world, no nation can thrive in isolation, including America. Focusing solely on national interests will ultimately backfire, alienating allies and undermining our economy.
Most importantly, the mantra “America first” conveys to our children that our nation’s strength lies in its diversity and welcoming nature is a weakness. It teaches them that some lives matter more based on geography, suggesting that the circumstances of their birth grant them greater rights to security and prosperity than children born elsewhere. This is not the message I want to send.
I aim to raise my children as global citizens, prioritizing their humanity over nationality and using their American privilege to contribute positively to the world.
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Summary
In essence, teaching children the concept of “America first” can foster misguided nationalism and a lack of empathy for others. Instead, we should encourage a worldview that prioritizes compassion and humanity over geographical boundaries.