Our right to practice any religion or no religion, the separation of religion and government;

our right to elect those who govern us and to orderly replace them when we think it is time;

our market economy under appropriate governmental regulation and the rule of law, which has brought an ever rising standard of living;

our one seventh poor live better than the majority in most countries;

our support of world trade and globalization when it is welcomed by governments of other nations;

our pragmatism that supports less than democratic regimes to insure a sufficient flow of oil or to enhance some other of our strategic goals;

our right to free speech,  including the press, media, internet and entertainment whether it produces high culture or low, treasures or trash, truth or lies;

our right to dissent peacefully;

our hope to educate all to their highest potential;

our levels of volunteerism, contributions and care on behalf of the less fortunate;

our open arms to immigrants of good character  in generous numbers and our willingness to allow them to become full citizens over time;

our views of progress — that we build on the best of our past, admit (however slowly) our mistakes — for example — our treatment of Native Americans, slavery, child labor, oppression of women, — try to correct them, and to strive to improve life for all Americans and all people;

our determination to defend our freedoms and to help others defend theirs, including the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel, and to assist other people certain the rights to which all humans are entitled.