Every year, as thousands of people watch the Memorial Day parade on Constitution Avenue in rain, wind, or any other inclement weather, the world is reminded once again that the United States earned its place in history because entire generations were willing to give their lives to defend a country that, despite all its flaws, built one of the strongest economies and one of the most influential institutional frameworks on the planet.
More than just a military ceremony, Memorial Day represents the memory of approximately 1.3 million members of the armed forces who died in combat throughout American history. Behind every flag displayed during the parade lies a story of sacrifice that allowed millions of people to live under political and economic freedoms that in other countries still seem like an unattainable privilege.
It is convenient to criticize the United States from abroad while using dollars, seeking U.S. investments, or relying on the financial stability that the country still provides to international trade.
Many of those who constantly attack the United States forget that much of Latin America’s prosperity—especially that linked to exports, remittances, and private investment—depends directly on U.S. economic strength. For millions of Hispanic entrepreneurs based in cities like Miami, Houston, Dallas, or Los Angeles, the entrepreneurial dream took root because the United States allowed them to build wealth under clear rules and with protection for private property.
That is why it is so irritating to see how certain political and media sectors constantly disparage the idea of American greatness while enjoying all the benefits produced by that very same system. There are those who speak of imperialism from phones financed by American capital and from technological platforms created precisely in the very country they insult every week. That hypocrisy is no longer even surprising and is part of a rather mediocre intellectual trend that confuses resentment with critical thinking.
This week’s Memorial Day parade also coincided with the commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary, a milestone that compels us to reflect on the historical significance of a nation that has weathered twelve major wars and numerous minor conflicts to maintain its political influence and military strength. No country achieves such international stature through improvisation. Behind it all lies institutional discipline, economic strength, and a very clear vision of the nation that many Western countries began to lose long ago.
Donald Trump also enters this discussion, a figure who causes unease among sectors unable to accept that millions of citizens still hold a firm vision of U.S. sovereignty, industry, and leadership. Trump has been a constant target of political attacks, smear campaigns, and violent incidents, including assassination attempts.
Many Latino business leaders fully understand what this country represents because we know the difference between building wealth in a robust economy and trying to survive under Latin American governments where bureaucracy punishes private enterprise. That is why Memorial Day also has a business dimension, because it honors those who defended the conditions that made possible the institutional stability which today allows us to open businesses, hire staff, and plan long-term investments.
There are those who still believe that the United States will automatically remain strong, as if prosperity were eternal and economic freedoms did not require protection. History proves exactly the opposite.
Great powers survive as long as they preserve their memory, national pride, and ability to defend their interests.
