On this 239th celebration of American Independence I have a few thoughts I'd like to share.
First and foremost: I love America.
I love everything about it.
Here’s just a small list of some of the things I love:
- I love the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution and The Bill of Rights.
- I love that it was built by the blood, sweat and tears of millions of immigrants.
- I love that there are people braver than I who protect it with their lives….keeping us the land of the free…and the home of the brave. And I love all those that went before them who fought for Independence and freedom.
- I love that we don’t all get along, and that’s ok.
- I love that my daughters are afforded the same opportunities as my son.
- I love that I get to worship where and when and Who I want…and you do too.
- I love that I get to choose who represents me in my government.
- I love that I have the right to vote.
- I love that even though it makes my blood boil…people have the right to burn, stomp on and disgrace the US flag. And if they have that right then they also must have the right to display whatever flag they desire. Be it Confederate, rainbow or Nazi.
- I even love that sometimes these days I am so frustrated by a segment of society that believes it is the most tolerant when in actuality it is the least tolerant…but they have the right to voice their opinion the same as I have the right to voice mine.
- I love that we have the separation of church and state. And if you believe that the Ten Commandments should not be displayed on a government property then you must also believe that a church has the right to marry whoever they choose according to their beliefs. Because that’s what the separation of church and state means.For me, loving America is like loving my children. I love it with every fiber in my being, even though sometimes I don’t agree with everything it does. I don’t stop loving it just because it’s strayed from the path I believe it should be on. I’m disappointed in its actions sometimes, but I still love it.I still believe in the ability of the majority to stand up and right the wrongs.We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.~Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776~
