How far our great nation has come since July 4, 1776 when the original colonies declared Independence from Great Britain. Today the lone super-power and desired home for millions of immigrants from every corner of the globe. In my opinion, the United States of America is one of the greatest nations in the world, not because of it's dominance but rather because of it's freedoms.

While we enter yet another round of tiresome presidential elections, with the requisite rhetoric, untruths, flip flops and outright lies from the right, left and in-between; intolerance from Atheist, Agnostics and the Religious; mobilization of Women, Youth, Christians, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians and Muslims in efforts to turn the tide of American Politics. It is all very monotonous and exasperating, to say the least.

Yet another year of war, some say is ordained of God, and others say was illegal from the start. Today, over 3000 of our young people are dead, many more thousands of body parts have been lost in a country, not our own, to overcome a terror, not ours alone. While our congress argues whether to continue funding of one war, there are rumors of yet another war in another land. Americans stand on both sides of the political fence, some believing we are great because of our power and others believing we are bullies out of control.

The ongoing arguments about whether homosexuals should marry, women be in the clergy or be president, the speculation of a black president, ongoing dilemma of abortion, rights of women, rights of the unborn, stem cell research, war, immigration, national health care, border control, social security and a myriad other issues continue to be at the forefront of our daily news.

How great our nation! We have the consummate freedom to choose, to fight over issues, to argue about a war, to vote our conscience, to be a Christian, a Muslim, a Jew or have no faith at all.  We have the right to express our opinions, share in ideas popular or un-popular and to work to an end with enduring freedoms; which continues to be a beacon for millions of immigrants every year.

Certainly, America has it's problems. We, however, enjoy a freedom that is uniquely American, uniquely Independent and Sovereign.  Do we make mistakes? Absolutely! In our short history, America is not without blemish. Slavery, oppression of women, racism, exploitation of children and abuse by clergy and government, each horrific, but in the end, I believe Americans, including those 35-million foreign born living within these United States will, with God's Grace, continue to be a benevolent, free people. 

Each year, around the first of July, as I prepare for my Fourth of July Party, I like to read the Declaration of Independence to remind myself what I celebrate.  As I live in a free United States, much of the indictment of King George III, the bulk of the document is not readily compelling for me; each year, however, my focus is once again on the preamble and the last few lines of the conclusion.

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 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.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security...

... and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Today, I hope you are blessed with family and friends, that you have a sense that you are loved by both, and your Creator. That you have a hope in the things that make America strong and detest the things which make it weak. I am celebrating a Free United States of America, a free nation of men, women, blacks, whites, Hispanics and Asians, a free nation of liberals and conservatives, homosexuals, heterosexuals, Christians, Muslims and Jews. I am celebrating the freedom to embrace those different than myself. I am celebrating that I have the privilege to be an American.

Have a Happy and Safe Fourth of July.