Why reclaiming merit and morality is the first step toward national renewal
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On my 3,000-mile journey across America, I felt the weight of history and the hope of tomorrow as I walked on Pocahontas Island, the oldest free Black community in the United States.
This walk, which started in New York on September 1, 2025, has now taken me to Virginia. I’ve stayed away from all the controversy on the internet, but I’ve seen enough to see how this division is tearing our nation apart. The reason I march is to call for a revival of virtue, faith, and the American Dream, and none of these dissonances are pointing us in that direction, one direction, a goal that I believe most of us desire.
On this walk, I was given a gift I didn’t expect: silence. The hours of silence along the way allowed me to think, pray, and listen to God, myself, and the people I met along the way. The Bible tells us in James 1:19, “Dear friends, take note of this: Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” This verse guided me on this walk and reminded me that true understanding begins with listening.
AT LANCASTER MARKET I WITNESSED AN AMERICA THAT IS STILL WORKING – NO NEED FOR POLITICS
In today’s world, we are polarized, angry, and quick to judge. A single disagreement online can escalate into a shouting match, reducing the integrity of the individual to a single perceived political crime. But here, in the real world, when I meet face to face with people from all walks of life, I see something different.
In today’s world, we are polarized, angry, and quick to judge. A single disagreement online can escalate into a shouting match, reducing the integrity of the individual to a single perceived political crime. But here, in the real world, when I meet face to face with people from all walks of life, I see something different.
I met people on social media with whom I might clash (over politics, race, or policy), but discovered their hearts in person. One farmer disagreed with my views on education reform, especially school choice, but shared how he prayed every night for his children. A young mother argued with me about who was responsible for the government shutdown, but then she told me about her dream of starting a business. These conversations revealed not only people’s ideas but also their souls.
THE FIELDS OF FREDERICKSBURG ARE STILL TALKING. I PRAY THAT AMERICA WILL LISTEN TO THE ECHO OF FREEDOM
This reminds me of Proverbs 18:13; There it is written: “Answering without listening is foolishness and shame.” We are often guilty of this online. We attack without hearing the other side. We fall for clickbait headlines. But on this walk, silence restored my patience. It taught me to sit down with someone, listen to their story, and find common ground. I may not agree with everything they say, but I see their humanity. And this is where the healing begins.
Pocahontas Island was a strong stop for me. It is the oldest free Black community in America. Its population in the early 1800s included both free Black residents and enslaved individuals. The free could own property and live independently; this was a rare occurrence in the pre-Civil War South. They faced bigger problems than ours. Their freedom was dangerous; slavery was everywhere. But they still focused on freedom.
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We overlook this today. As I have stated before, I march to help us restore virtue, faith, and the American Dream that is our guiding light. Many people are more interested in petty squabbles and historical revisionism. They are destroying the fabric of America with toxic identity politics and tribalism, and some are even cashing in on our attention. Who loses in the end? We do.
That’s why this walk has been such a blessing for me, especially the silence and face-to-face conversations. I was given time to pray and hear God’s voice, as Psalm 46:10 encourages: “Be still and know that I am God.”
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Even if we disagree, we can still love each other. But we must listen to each other. When we see the humanity in our American friends, we are reminded of what unites us in this great country. This is the way forward.
So, starting today, let’s silence the hate, restore our faith, and reclaim the American Dream.
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