The Man Without a Country

Edward Everett Hale wrote The Man Without A Country in 1863 during one of the darkest times in our nation's history. At a time when our country was torn apart by war with brother fighting brother, Hale sought to illustrate the importance of one's country, by showing what it would be like to be without a country. In the story, a young man in the U.S. Military is lead astray by a power hungry traitor, who is intent on leading a rebellion against the government. The rebellion failed and the young officer was summarily court-martialed. When asked to speak during his sentencing, he replied that he wished to never hear of the United States again. The court granted his wish, and ordered that he never see or hear of his country again. The story then chronicles the remainder of the life of the man without a country. This story is just as applicable today as it was over a century ago when it was first penned, perhaps even more so. As a nation, we have experienced much over the nearly last 150 years, and our forefathers would hardly recognize our country as it is today. However, the importance of our country to each and every one of us should be equal, if not greater than it was for our forefathers. Even when our government is pursuing a course that we do not agree with, it is still our duty to strive to preserve the Union, and to further the ideals, such as freedom, for which the country was founded. For if, we do not support our country in both times of good as well as bad, we may find out what it is really like to be The Man Without A Country.