A global reflection on America’s founding ideals from leading voices living outside the United States in just 250 words.
An internationally recognized expert in democracy and governance, Djordje Todorović has designed and executed democracy development programs, trainings, election observations, and civil society activities for 22 years in countries in the Middle East and North Africa, Asia, Europe, Africa, Eurasia, and Latin America. Todorović currently manages the International Republican Institute’s World Movement team. Between 1999 and 2004, as a part of IRI’s Serbia team, Todorović worked with Serbian opposition parties and the Otpor student movement, which played a crucial role in ousting the regime of Slobodan Milošević and the transition that followed. Previously, Todorović was a reporter for independent media in Serbia – Radio B92 from 1997 to 1999 – and one of the founders of Demokratija daily, one of first free newspapers in Serbia.
For a kid growing up in Yugoslavia, America was a dream. It was the glamour of freedom of choice, a free life. It was Levi’s, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Top Gun, Rocky, John Wayne. The iconic cowboy on the horse.
America was the winner of the Cold War. A fortress of democracy and human rights, and the protector of these values around the globe.
America is the smile, welcoming, people saying hi as they pass by.
To me, America was the ally that helped us get rid of the mafia of war criminals in Serbia.
America was the ashes of Sept. 11.
America was the best grassroots campaign I’ve seen in my life in Concord, North Carolina.
America was my two years in Iraq. It was helping Zimbabwean opposition, Burmese freedom fighters. America was multiparty training with young Cambodian leaders.
America took me to Tunisia – helping political leaders rebuild the country and draft a new constitution. America was free and fair elections. It was smiles on people’s faces when they voted freely for the first time in their lives.
America was help to young Syrians standing up to ISIS and Assad. And Lebanese bravely fighting Hezbollah.
America was the excitement of citizens when a politician knocks on their door for the first time in their lives.
America is not perfect. It is rethinking, remaking, and redoing. Innovating. Sometimes misunderstanding. America is young, honest, and brave.
America is the small town, the big city, and my forest.
America is now my country, and it is worth fighting for.
