Malcolm Butler and American the beautiful

If you follow politics and current events as closely as I do, it's oftentimes easy to let the true inner beauty that is America escape you. Seemingly since the dissemination of news first began, the puppet masters of "information" have insisted that the only happenings that are worthy of our attention must strictly fall within the framework of death, destruction, turmoil, strife, corruption and just general disagreement. Being constantly bombarded with everything that is wrong and terrible within our country can make one forget what a truly magical place we live in.

The negativity that consistently surrounds us can skew our perception of our home, but let us never forget what a beautiful place America actually is. Naturally, there is superficial beauty that we can all experience when we see the purple mountains majesty or the glistening oceans, but the true beauty of America lies within the unique opportunities that exist for all of us who are fortunate enough to live within these borders. It lies in the "dare to be great" situations we each have the ability to seek out and fulfill if we so desire, thereby securing a life for ourselves and our family hat cannot be matched anywhere in the world.

Thankfully, I was reminded of this foundational this week as I was reading commentary on Sunday's Super Bowl. It's a shame that we as Americans need to be "reminded" of such a reality that has been the life blood of our republic for 239 years, but unfortunately, with the inundation of constant negativity, many of us lose sight of a truth that should be self-evident.

As I was reading, the overwhelming beauty of America struck me once again. The New England Patriots' strong safety, Malcolm Butler, is the epitome of the American dream and makes me proud to live in the greatest country this planet has ever known. Malcolm Butler, who made the historical game-winning interception, has reminded me that America is one of the very few places on this globe where dare-to-be great situations are there for anyone who is willing to seek them out and then persevere until greatness is achieved. The definition of "greatness" will differ according to the individual, but the opportunity will always be there all the same.

Without Malcolm Butler it is doubtful that the Patriots would be world champions today. Without Malcolm Butler it is doubtful that the lifelong hopes and dreams of dozens and dozens of other men would have been realized. Each man in a New England Patriot uniform Sunday set off on a journey many years ago to hopefully one day become a champion. When the journey began there was never any guarantee that the destination would ever be reached, yet the trip was still taken. To find yourself on a stage so grand an obsession must exist and a significant sacrifice must occur, while the determination of whether or not it was all worth it is realized in a very short time. Without Malcolm Butler, the opportunity of this lifetime for so many could have all been in vain.

[See Butler's interception:]

Four and a half years ago, Malcolm Butler was working at a Popeye's Chicken after he'd been kicked off the football team of Hinds Community College. Let that sink in for a moment. There are two things that make this story so compelling and America so beautiful. Four and a half years ago Malcolm Butler was working at a fast-food chicken joint after being kicked off of a COMMUNITY COLLEGE football team. He wasn't dumped from Alabama's football program; he was kicked off of a community college football team.

Evidently, Malcolm Butler was not satisfied with his lot in life – so he sought out his dare-to-be great situation that America the beautiful has a funny way of providing at some point in time or another, and all she asks from us in return is a healthy supply of desire and determination.

Unfortunately, however, many in our society have accepted the avalanche of negativity and skepticism and have become blind to the beauty America still offers. They buy into the strife of class warfare. They consume the rhetoric that speaks to corruption and hopelessness and begin looking everywhere but the mirror for help getting through life while never realizing that America will help you be great if you're simply willing to first help yourself.

From the looks of things Malcolm Butler went through some hard times, some unpleasant times. I'm sure it would have been extremely easy for him to turn to charity and welfare for provision, like so many others who have lost belief in our great nation – but instead Malcolm Butler turned to the man in the mirror and the beauty of America. For that the New England Patriots are champions. But most of all, Malcolm Butler is a champion.

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