A blessing by its very definition is underserved. And to live in a free society such as ours should instill a deep well of gratitude, an appreciation for something that wedid not earn but ratherinherited. We enjoy that which cost people their sweat, blood, tears and ultimately their lives. This great democracy is a dream that continues to come trueand at the same time evolve. In other words our society is already realized as a miraculous accomplishment, but has not yet been completed and stands in constant need of improvement. We get to be a citizen in such a society is equallymiraculous carrying with it certain responsibilities and the notion that we must constantly improve.

9/11 serves as a horrific reminder of the freedom we enjoy and how quickly it can be attacked. For many who were too young to realize its significance September 11, 2012 seems so far removed from2001, for others the tragic events of that day are forever present in our memories. 9/11 reminds us that the dream that became and continues to be America is both strong and delicate. It is strong because the resolve of those who truly believe in freedom is unshakable. It is delicate because to murder and thus destroy citizens who enjoy that freedom is to affect the freedom of every citizen of our land.

Dr. Martin Luther King gave the commencement address at Lincoln University on June 6, 1961. In it he articulated the dream that became America:

America is essentially a dream, a dream as yet unfulfilled. It is a dream of a land where men of all races, of all nationalities and of all creeds can live together as brothers. The substance of the dream is expressed in these sublime words, words lifted to cosmic proportions: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This is the dream.

Student Leadership University 201 is an entire portion of the leadership journey dedicated to understanding the dream called Americaand maybe more importantly our role as citizens. Therefore these images are meant to remind us of this dream, further deepen the well of our gratitude and motivate us towards our responsibility.

ByBrent Crowe