This is the is the best country in the world, and we know it.
Today we celebrate our nations birthday.
On a day to day basis, we often take our our freedom for granted. Except for us americans who have spent time abroad and naturalized citizens who grew up in other countries, most have a difficult time truly understanding what it's like to live in a nation that is not as blessed as the United States.
It seems so automatic, this republic in which we live. But it was a wild experiment back in the 18th century. Imagine, allowing people to plot the course of the goverment rather than accepting whatever it was that the king set down!
Freedom of speech. Freedom of the press. freedom to worship as one saw fit. the right to own firearms. A variety of rights to protect one's home from illegal searchs and one from self-incrimination.
As Americans, we have the privilege to select the people who will represent us at all levels of goverment, and put them out of office if they don't git the job done. We have the option to not vote at all, if that is our choice.
The way in which the country has handled citizen's rights has been far from perfect. Slavery is a blot on our history.
The treatment of American Indaians including the horrific Trail of Tears, was not worthy of our nation. Various other minority groups, such as the Japanese-Americans interred during World War II, were treated shamefully. And even today during the war on terrorism, there are debates on how far the goverment should go in scaling back rights in order to protect us.
Still, as a nation, we learn from our mistakes.We become more inclusive. We evolve into a better place than before.
Despite what some naysayers may say, the united States still is the most envied nation in the world. And we Americans are the most blessed people in the world.
Happy Birthday and may God bless you and yours!
Today we celebrate our nations birthday.
On a day to day basis, we often take our our freedom for granted. Except for us americans who have spent time abroad and naturalized citizens who grew up in other countries, most have a difficult time truly understanding what it's like to live in a nation that is not as blessed as the United States.
It seems so automatic, this republic in which we live. But it was a wild experiment back in the 18th century. Imagine, allowing people to plot the course of the goverment rather than accepting whatever it was that the king set down!
Freedom of speech. Freedom of the press. freedom to worship as one saw fit. the right to own firearms. A variety of rights to protect one's home from illegal searchs and one from self-incrimination.
As Americans, we have the privilege to select the people who will represent us at all levels of goverment, and put them out of office if they don't git the job done. We have the option to not vote at all, if that is our choice.
The way in which the country has handled citizen's rights has been far from perfect. Slavery is a blot on our history.
The treatment of American Indaians including the horrific Trail of Tears, was not worthy of our nation. Various other minority groups, such as the Japanese-Americans interred during World War II, were treated shamefully. And even today during the war on terrorism, there are debates on how far the goverment should go in scaling back rights in order to protect us.
Still, as a nation, we learn from our mistakes.We become more inclusive. We evolve into a better place than before.
Despite what some naysayers may say, the united States still is the most envied nation in the world. And we Americans are the most blessed people in the world.
Happy Birthday and may God bless you and yours!