It’s our turn to keep the promise of American freedom

Blog written by Sandra Benitez, Executive Director of The LIBRE Initiative

Nearly 250 years ago, the men who founded this country made a bold decision.

They stood up against an oppressive government that trampled their most basic rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Our founders envisioned a republic rooted in dignity, where government power was limited and liberty came from God, not the government.  

[Take one small step to keep these ideas alive for generations to come]

Those ideas are in the DNA of America. They are also the reason my family came to the United States from El Salvador.

Today, however, these values are in danger.

For Americans struggling to make ends meet, these ideas might seem abstract. Some politicians see these values as obstacles to be removed.

But here’s the truth: The way forward is to double down and fiercely protect the principles that built America — freedom, dignity, opportunity, rule of law, limited government, and civic duty.

And Latinos know this better than anyone.

Latinos have been here from the very beginning, fighting for independence alongside fellow Americans.

Today, more than 9 in 10 Latinos believe in core American principles, and almost 80% of Latinos think the free market is the best way to create an economy that works for all Americans.

These numbers shouldn’t come as a surprise. Latinos know firsthand how freedom and opportunity can change your life.

Latinos and the American spirit

My grandmother left El Salvador because she understood that without freedom, there’s no future.

She came to the United States because America offered something exceptional: the promise that if you worked hard, followed the rules, and took responsibility for your family, you had a real chance to build a better life.

[We must keep the American spirit alive]

That same drive carried my family forward. My mother became a single mother of two at just 18 years old. She worked nonstop to give us opportunities, and freedom made that possible.

I also saw that same brave American spirit when I was growing up in a working-class neighborhood in New York. People worked long hours, helped their neighbors, and took pride in providing for their families.

If you’re Latino, these stories probably sound very familiar to you.

Latinos don’t ask for special treatment; they want a fair shot, and they’ll do the rest.  

That’s the American spirit. That’s what built this country.

The false promise of government

But when the government starts taking more and more power for itself, that spirit begins to ebb away.

When times are tough, it’s tempting to believe the government can fix everything. Politicians promise that if you give them more control, they’ll make life more affordable, the economy stronger, and the country fairer.

But here’s what actually happens: They get more power, we lose our freedoms, and our problems get worse.

It’s a pattern we’ve seen over and over again — not just here, but in the countries many Latino families left behind.

America was not built by bureaucrats who think they know better than the people. It was built by courageous individuals who worked hard and risked it all for freedom.

There might be some countries that find an overbearing government a price worth paying for a false sense of security.

But not America. America was built differently.

Keeping America free for 250 more years

America’s story is one of free people doing extraordinary things.

An American invented the lightbulb. Two Americans invented the plane. And it was Americans who took mankind to the moon.

We’ve done the impossible for 250 years. We can do it again.

This country became the most prosperous society in history because individuals were trusted to build, create, and lead.

Along the way, Americans fought and sacrificed to defend those freedoms, especially when it was hard.

My abuela took her step toward freedom when she left El Salvador. My mom took another step when she worked multiple jobs to give us a shot.

Now it’s our turn to take the first step to keep the American Dream alive.

Our campaign, “Un Pasito” (One Small Step), invites Latinos to learn about our founding principles.

It’s a movement for Latinos who don’t take freedom for granted. It’s our chance to stand up for the values that brought our families here and protect them for the next generation.

Take your step with us. Let’s keep America free for 250 more years.