Facing our fears is what America is all about

Let me tell you something important about the American spirit — something that hard-working Americans embody every single day. It’s the drive, the grit, and the perseverance to confront our fears head-on and rise back up every time we’re knocked down. Donald Trump returning to Butler, Pa., a place where he was nearly assassinated, speaks volumes about that resilience.

It’s not just about a campaign stop — it’s a message to every single one of us.

You see, life isn’t a smooth ride. We all face our own personal versions of Butler, Pennsylvania. For some, it’s the fear of failure in business or personal relationships. For others, it’s about losing faith, hope, or maybe the will to keep fighting. But here’s the truth, as plain as it gets: if you let fear dictate your life, you lose. If you allow yourself to stay down after you’ve been knocked down, you’re giving up the one thing you have control over — your will to come back, again and again.

Trump returning to Butler isn’t just symbolic; it’s a statement that fear does not win.

The Left and the media want you to believe that if you face adversity, you should retreat, play it safe, give in to doubt, be the victim. And while you can’t control what the world throws at you, you can control how you respond. And Trump’s response is to show that Butler — like every obstacle thrown his way — won’t define him.

I mean every one of us, at some point in our lives, faces those moments of crisis — when we feel defeated, attacked, maybe even scared to keep going. But confronting your fears is not just good advice — it’s necessary. You can’t grow if you’re always running away, and, more importantly, you can’t win that way.

Zig Ziglar once said, “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” And starting means stepping into the places that scare you, that challenge you, that test your limits. It’s no coincidence that the most successful people, like Trump, are the ones who don’t shy away from adversity — they embrace it. They understand that every setback is a setup for a comeback.

And that’s true for each one of you reading this right now. Whether it’s that job opportunity you didn’t get, the business deal that fell through, or the personal hardship you’re going through, it’s not the end of the story. The only way it becomes the end is if you stop trying, if you stay down after the fall. But if you confront your fear, stand up, dust yourself off and go right back to where you stumbled, you show the world — and yourself — that nothing will keep you down.

Ronald Reagan, another man with an indomitable spirit, was shot in 1981. Did he give up? Did he hide? No! He came back stronger, more determined than ever to lead this great nation. That’s the kind of leadership Trump is showing today. And that’s the kind of resilience this country needs.

Yes, I know, some will say that he’s using this opportunity in Butler for his own political gain — after all, he’s running for president — and the media coverage his trip will garner.

You could look at it that way. But this isn’t just about politics. This is about life. It’s about each of us facing our own fears and refusing to back down. We all have moments where fear creeps in — where the easy path is to stay in our comfort zone, to avoid the fight.

It’s about every single one of us who’s been told we can’t, who’s been pushed down, and who’s been counted out. But like Trump, we’re not giving up. We’re standing back up. We’re facing our fears, confronting our challenges, and rising above them.

Because that’s what America is all about. The Rev. Billy Graham once said, “Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened.”

And that’s why it’s important Trump is going back to Butler.

After all, we’re only the land of the free because we’re the home of the brave.

Louis R. Avallone is a Shreveport businessman, attorney and author of “Bright Spots, Big Country, What Makes America Great.” He is also a former aide to U.S. Representative Jim McCrery and editor of The Caddo Republican. His columns have appeared regularly in 318 Forum since 2007. Follow him on Facebook, on Twitter @louisravallone or by e-mail at louisavallone@mac.com, and on American Ground Radio at 101.7 FM and 710 AM, weeknights from 6 - 7 p.m., and streaming live on keelnews.com.