**A Part of America I Long For, I Found in Ukraine**
I know Ukraine. I’ve been to Ukraine. It’s not perfect – neither is the United States. But in many ways, Ukraine is the United States I long for.
Not because of its suffering or war, but because of its clarity and unwavering belief that liberty is worth fighting for, sacrificing for, and even dying for. In Ukraine, there’s no confusion about what’s at stake – no illusions that democracy is self-sustaining, no comfort in the false security of past victories.
The people there understand that freedom without responsibility is not freedom at all. I wish I could say the same about my own country.
Ukraine knows what it stands for, and when I walked its streets and spoke with Ukrainians who had lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods, I didn’t hear bitterness or self-pity – I heard resolve. They understand that history doesn’t move on its own; it’s shaped by those willing to fight for it.
**The Difference Between Liberty and Freedom**
Ukraine’s war is not just about territory but about the right to exist, govern oneself, and choose one’s future. The people don’t take liberty for granted – they know what happens when it’s threatened, when people hesitate, or a country believes it’s immune to collapse.
In contrast, America has forgotten what makes it truly free. We’ve lost sight of the importance of fighting for democracy every day. Ukraine reminds us that liberty is earned, not given.
**A Lesson from Ukraine**
Ukraine doesn’t have the luxury of apathy; it knows that liberty is worth fighting for. The United States once knew this too – now we need to remember. Can we recognize that the fight for democracy is not just happening in Ukraine but here – inside our borders, institutions, and hearts?
If Ukraine is the United States I long for, then perhaps the better question is: Can America become the country it once was? A nation that understands liberty is earned, not given.
**The Answer Will Determine Our Future**
To those who say, “If you like Ukraine so much, why don’t you move there?” My response is: Because I believe in the American ideal. This country – despite its flaws and complacency – still has the potential to be what it once was: a nation that understands liberty is earned, not given.
Patriotism is not blind allegiance; it’s the willingness to demand that one’s country live up to its highest ideals, even when it falls short. I don’t admire Ukraine because it’s perfect – I admire it because it has clarity and purpose.
I won’t move to Ukraine but will stand up for Ukraine – travel to Ukraine – and support its fight against tyranny and for liberty. But I’ll stay in America to fight, in whatever way I can, to make sure that America does not forget what makes it truly free.
**About the Author**
Graden Keller is a global business strategist, advisor, and founder of kellerconsulting.