Independence for All
For 230 years we as a people have been free. Free to rule ourselves as we see fit. Free to worship as we choose, gather together to discuss our differences and common interests. Free to leave this country and pursue our fortunes elsewhere if we want. Looking back on those 230 years I think we've done pretty well for ourselves.
We have risen to be THE dominant country on the planet, militarily, diplomatically, and (most important) economically. We fought almost a dozen major wars but in only three of them was significant blood shed on our shores. Our military power (and our oceans) have kept us largely safe. We have inspired countless nations to seek their own independence and heralded the end of the empirical era. We have saved Europe (twice) from itself, and helped build to of the strongest democracies and economic powers in Germany and Japan. We have liberated dictatorships and helped foster democracy even in the harshest of places. Not to shabby for such a young nation.
Our language is the language of business and diplomacy, our currency (even in it's weakened state) is the standard by which others are judged, our democracy (especially that document signed 230 years ago is the basis on which countless other nations model their own governments. Since we've given so much to the world, why do so many dislike us so much? It's easy to watch the news and imagine it just comes down to us and them.
But this Fourth of July, look past the headlines and think about how many immigrants you knew in College. How many do you see everyday? Do they look like they hate America? Most don't. Most of them have come to this country because the freedom and bounty that you and I often take for granted, has given them the hope for a better life. They come to be educated, they come for higher wages, they come for political asylum, they come to worship freely. The key is that they come.
So this fourth, forget for a moment, that Iran is creeping ever closer to an Atomic weapon, or that Iraq's fledgling government has yet to make serious headway against the insurgents. Forget that Israel and Palestine are again at war in Gaza, or that France and Germany are still giving us the cold shoulder. Remember Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Adams, Washington, and Hancock. Remember that's Independence day, and you are free.
We have risen to be THE dominant country on the planet, militarily, diplomatically, and (most important) economically. We fought almost a dozen major wars but in only three of them was significant blood shed on our shores. Our military power (and our oceans) have kept us largely safe. We have inspired countless nations to seek their own independence and heralded the end of the empirical era. We have saved Europe (twice) from itself, and helped build to of the strongest democracies and economic powers in Germany and Japan. We have liberated dictatorships and helped foster democracy even in the harshest of places. Not to shabby for such a young nation.
Our language is the language of business and diplomacy, our currency (even in it's weakened state) is the standard by which others are judged, our democracy (especially that document signed 230 years ago is the basis on which countless other nations model their own governments. Since we've given so much to the world, why do so many dislike us so much? It's easy to watch the news and imagine it just comes down to us and them.
But this Fourth of July, look past the headlines and think about how many immigrants you knew in College. How many do you see everyday? Do they look like they hate America? Most don't. Most of them have come to this country because the freedom and bounty that you and I often take for granted, has given them the hope for a better life. They come to be educated, they come for higher wages, they come for political asylum, they come to worship freely. The key is that they come.
So this fourth, forget for a moment, that Iran is creeping ever closer to an Atomic weapon, or that Iraq's fledgling government has yet to make serious headway against the insurgents. Forget that Israel and Palestine are again at war in Gaza, or that France and Germany are still giving us the cold shoulder. Remember Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Adams, Washington, and Hancock. Remember that's Independence day, and you are free.
posted by Daddy Rogue at 5:41 PM
1 Comments:
Thanks, Benz. I didn't start out that article as a flag waver, I actually intended to write a piece about what Palestine has done with their first shot at independence (mostly shoot at Israel). Somewhere in the middle I just got a little nostalgic and well, proud. So there you go. Enjoy your holiday everybody.
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