At a critical moment during the Revolutionary War, when his army was surrounded and in danger of being destroyed, Gen. George Washington issued this order — “put only Americans on guard tonight.”

As I have studied American history over the years, I have come to realize that what the general was talking about were those volunteer citizens-soldiers who had left their families and farms and all they owned to risk everything for the cause of freedom. There were 55 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, and here are the final words of that Declaration: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” 

While this was a long time ago, it still applies to our nation and our cause in the world today. Our great country has survived for almost 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, and we have faced many challenges, including two world wars. Even with a bloody nose we are still standing strong and free. One of the things that made us the greatest nation in the history of the world is a set of fundamental values that have evolved over time and have set us apart from all others. 

These values can be seen very clearly in something a friend sent me the other day titled, “You might be a true American if.” It goes on to list several character traits and values that Jeff Foxworthy made famous several years ago. If you are not familiar with “redneck humor” here are a couple of examples — You might be a redneck if you mowed your front lawn and discovered three cars that you did not know were there. You might be a redneck if you took a gallon of paint and climbed to the top of the water tower to defend your sister’s honor.

There are countless others, but you get the idea. As I share the following thoughts, I hope you will think about each of these and what they mean.

You might be a true American if:

* You have never protested about seeing the Ten Commandments posted in public places.

* It never occurred to you not to still say Merry Christmas, instead of Happy Holidays.

* You bow your head when someone prays.

* You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem

And there are many more. Well, how about it? Using these values and traits as a standard, would you consider yourself to be a True American?

As I said earlier, these did not come about overnight but rather they evolved slowly over time as part of our culture. My purpose here is certainly not to question anyone’s patriotism. Only God really and truly knows our heart. However, we are judged by our words, our actions and the company we keep. In these days as we face the global threat of terrorism, it really comes down to who we want to win.

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(Jim Davidson is an author, public speaker, syndicated columnist, and Founder of the Bookcase for Every Child project. For a personalized copy of “Keep Your Fork” send $25, which includes postage and handling and tax, to Jim Davidson, 2 Bentley Drive, Conway, AR 72034.)