The Optimist
  • Home
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Features
  • Print Edition
    • The Pessimist
    • Special Projects
  • Police Log
  • Classifieds
You are here: Home / Opinion / Columns / The great American risk takers

The great American risk takers

January 18, 2013 by Josh Garcia

The American people are fundamentally risk takers.

I say this as a spineless wimp myself. It’s all right, it’s true. I can’t imagine jumping from a plane or going in big on a horse race. Or even getting too physical in a sport.

I’ll spare you the cheese of recounting the many moments in American history that involved a successful gamble, political or otherwise, but we’ve been laying all the cards on the table since the birth of the nation. While capitalism thrives on risk, there was a lot more at stake than money when Americans declared independence, pushed west or explored interstellar space.

Perhaps the most remarkable risk of all is the extraordinary amount of freedom granted to each citizen. Just about all of these freedoms can lead to less than ideal results. Liberty does not necessarily lead to safety, prosperity or goodwill, but we made the bet on liberty. That was a pretty dangerous thing to do.

Our risky nature may be subconscious; it may be that we don’t fully understand the deep sea of potential consequences that lurk beneath the freedoms we’ve bestowed on ourselves. Then again, history has shown us just about every possible negative outcome of our lifestyle. Our rights have been abused countless times, some abuses obviously more horrific than others. Our political and economic systems have failed us throughout our history.

Maybe we do want the risks themselves – maybe we just can’t imagine life without them, maybe we would somehow feel less free if they were eliminated. Or maybe we are just willing to make the trade-off. After all, we’ve been taught that through risks are rewards. It may not be the best way, but it’s part of the American way, whether we consciously realize it or not.

We surrendered to the idea of playing an all-or-nothing game when we could just modify a few rules. Nations all over the world have found and are continuing to find a balance between safety, risk and freedom. Surely America could do the same. The question is, would we want to? Would altering America’s inherent risk shred part of its identity?

Filed Under: Columns

Other Opinion:

  • Tariffs are the last thing struggling students need

  • Gen Z won the election for Donald Trump

  • A Swift rebuke: When it comes to politics, celebrities just do not get it

About Josh Garcia

Joshua Garcia is a sophomore convergence journalism major from Lexington, North Carolina and managing editor of the Optimist.

You are here: Home / Opinion / Columns / The great American risk takers

Other Opinion:

  • Tariffs are the last thing struggling students need

  • Gen Z won the election for Donald Trump

  • A Swift rebuke: When it comes to politics, celebrities just do not get it

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
30 Mar

Sing Song 2025 Awards Women’s Division:

Vocals:
1. Ko Jo Kai
2. Sigma Theta Chi
3. Delta Theta

Entertainment:
1. Sigma Theta Chi
2. Ko Jo Kai
3. Delta Theta

Note: An earlier post included a spelling error, so we have since updated it for accuracy.

Reply on Twitter 1906348770293317827 Retweet on Twitter 1906348770293317827 Like on Twitter 1906348770293317827 Twitter 1906348770293317827
acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
30 Mar

Sing Song 2025 Awards Class Division:

Overall Award:
1. Freshman Purple
2. Freshman White
3. Seniors

Reply on Twitter 1906188185371034000 Retweet on Twitter 1906188185371034000 Like on Twitter 1906188185371034000 3 Twitter 1906188185371034000

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

11 months ago

The Optimist

Video

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

1 years ago

The Optimist
"Ending my college education early was always the plan for me, but the things that I have been able to see, experience and examine about ACU’s community were not. I have found immense growth in ACU over the past three and a half years, but ACU still has a long road to climb if it wants to keep catering to students as the world changes around them." To read more of this article visit acuoptimist ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 28, 2024

Our top stories today include a recap of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, the ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 21, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 14, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 24, 2024

Latest Photos

1
2
3
4
5
PrevNext
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Policies
    • Advertising Policy
    • Letters to the Editor and Reader Comments
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Features
  • Advertise
    • Paid Advertisement
  • Police Log

© 2025 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved