Happy Birthday, USA

Written by Jen Friday, 04 July 2008 00:00

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It's July 4th. Though it's gloomy outside in my part of the world, it's beautiful to wake up in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I hear birds chirping. The occasional popping sounds come only from manufactured fireworks packaged in red, white and blue. The kids can play in the rain without fear.

The coffee I drink was purchased at a well-stocked grocery store, where those with enough cash and conscience can choose the "fair trade" version over other brands. Nobody told me how much of anything to purchase, or what to wear when I went out into the world. I didn't have a chaperone, and I could flash a tatoo (heaven forbid) if I had one.

My son received a letter from our state representative yesterday, a woman we freely elected by casting our vote at the poll down the street. She congratulated him on his recent success at the science fair. He chose his project himself, encouraged in a school where he is challenged to explore his interests, question the status quo and use his God-given talents to make the world a better place. He is surrounded by people of faith, a faith we freely chose. We are thankful that we can worship openly without fear anywhere within our borders.

Through school, home life, work and church, we are friends with people who have come to the USA seeking a better life. Our friends hail from Egypt and Korea, China and Europe. With a variety of skin colors and religious backgrounds, our little corner of the world is a cross section of the melting pot that is the United States.

Yes, there is much I have-all of us have-to be thankful for on this birthday of our country. Is the USA perfect? Of course not, but our founding fathers definitely had the right idea. Perhaps for this one day, we can overlook what needs to improve and celebrate the good within our 50 states.

Happy Birthday, USA!