QandO

July 04, 2004

Happy 4th of July
Posted by McQ

I'd like to wish everyone a happy 4th of July.

This holiday becomes more and more significant for me the older I get. Its gone from an exciting day in which, as a child, I was able to play with fireworks, to an anticipated day off in later years to the celebration of a holiday of the birth of a nation which seems more and more remarkable to me with every passing year.

Yes, of course we have our problems. And yes, we have our dissent. But we wouldn't have it any other way. And yes, its even true that we're probably not doing somethings the way our founders had envisioned. But, be that as it may, in relative terms we're probably the most free nation this earth has ever seen. Politically we fight like cats and dogs and then every 4 to 8 years peacefully hand over power to our opponents. To me that's a blessing of immense proportions when I observe the history of the world. The peaceful transition of power is something that, in very recent history, was all but unheard of.

We've been doing it for over 200 years.

Its a blessing I owe to the vision of our Founding Fathers and those who fought to make this country what it is. To those who risked their "lives, fortunes and sacred honor" to give that vision birth.

I also give my thanks to all veterans from every era for the sacrifices they've made and are still making today. These brave and wonderful men and women deserve our respect and support regardless of which side of the political divide each of us reside. We don't exist as we do today without them, and the world is a much more dark and dangerous place without their courage and sacrifice.

This has been a rough year for all Americans ... war, deaths in battle, political infighting and world changing events. But in the final analysis, Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green ... we're all Americans. And while we may disagree on how, for the most part we all want what is best for America and her citizens.

That is the very heart and soul of what makes America great and will keep it great.

To all Americans everywhere of whatever political stripe, I wish you all the most happy and safe celebrations of our founding as a nation.

May you have a wonderful 4th of July.

UPDATE (JON): To McQ's words, I'd add this:

Today, on the way home from McDonalds with my two-year old son, I stopped at a gas station. In the parking lot, I passed a group of kids in uniforms, apparently on their way to a baseball game, as well as people going in and out of the store buying....well, gas, barbeque chips, Cokes, cigarettes, and whatever else people buy at convenience stores. Many were, I'm sure, on their way to a cook-out. As soon as I post this, I am, too.

It struck me how American this all was. Conspicuous consumption, gasoline, barbeque chips, Coke. And a cook-out. Perhaps later, fireworks.

That's America. Free to do, not what we have to do, but what we want to do. And a lot of it was being done at a convenience store today.

Funny place to see America, but that's where I saw it today.

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