Independence Day

School days were begun by standing, placing hands over hearts and reciting this pledge.  But it wasn't until fairly recently that the true meaning of these words hit home.

It is a time when enemies without and those within threaten our very freedom, our loyalty to our country and our patriotism is being challenged from all sides.  Suddenly it is considered racist to wear sneakers with a picture of the Betsy Ross flag on them.  Others are offended by our flag pictured on clothing.  Still others shame themselves by refusing to stand for our national anthem.

Strangely enough, in this country where some find it necessary to trash our flag and our way of life, I have yet to see caravans of Americans forming to march to another country.  Hollywood should be a ghost town if all those who vowed to leave our country when Trump was elected had really done so.

Do we not realize that nowhere else in the world could those who protest our flag do so without deadly consequences?  Try voicing criticism of the leaders in North Korea or China or many of the Middle Eastern countries and see how long you last.

We are not perfect as a country, mostly because we are filled with less than perfect human beings.  We don't pretend to be perfect.

But we are by far the very best place on the planet to live.  I can voice my opinion here without fear of being thrown in jail for it.  I can live anywhere within our borders that I choose to without having to ask permission to do so.  I can travel anywhere within our 50 states I want to.  I can worship whatever God I believe in freely, even though there are those who try to prevent me from doing so.

It is true we have restrictions.  Probably more than we would like.  But even with those restrictions, we still have way more freedoms than do so many citizens of other countries.

For me and mine, we will continue to celebrate this marvelous country of ours.  And we will continue to pray that those who wish to destroy everything our predecessors fought and died for, will fail.

So go grill those hamburgers.  Go watch that parade.  Go enjoy those fireworks.  Rejoice.  We have more reason to celebrate than any other citizens on earth.  And we do so because on this date all those years ago, brave men declared us a nation of free and independent people.

Happy 4th of July !!