Given the events in Iran, I thought I should update my essay. Hopefully the Iranian people will take some strength and comfort from these humble words I have written (additions are in bold):

“What A Free and Strong America Means to Me: Iran Remix”
By David Rees
(for the Mitt Romney Essay Contest where you can win the baseballs)

“What does a free and strong America mean to me?” This is the question we must answer in America today more than ever because of the crazy shit going down in Iran. Sometimes it seems like there are too many challenges facing us, from terrorism to welfare to whatever the hell is going on over there. And yet America continues to grow strong and free no matter how our enemies in Iran try to stop us. So the question is, “What does this mean to me and to our friends in Iran who we must support by bombing their nuclear facilities, preferably today?” I think it comes from our Founding Fathers, who had the wisdom … our Charter Documents, which had the words … our Fighting Warriors, who had the courage … and our Self-Made Business Men who had the vision, like Mitt Romney, the famous millionaire … all of them working together, to make a Free and Strong America that means so much to me and which inspires the Iranians, and we all know those kids wouldn’t be out protesting in Iran City (capital of Iran) if it wasn’t for our example of how to be free and strong, so, basically, you’re welcome. Also, I’ve been getting into yoga and I really recommend it to everyone who loves this country.