Friday, July 4, 2008

Happy Independence Day

While many of you are out grilling and/or enjoying a nice fireworks display, take some time to think about all who have come before you. Well over one million people have given up their lives in the preservation of this great country since that history altering declaration made more than two hundred years ago.

While people in this country do not always agree, the noble ideas of our Founding Fathers continue to act as a beacon for which we strive. Freedom, Justice, Equality; these are not just words, they are goals that we have pursued since our creation.

In our quest we have unquestionably changed the course of human history. Democracy’s are on the march. When we started our journey there was only a handful of other democratic countries. Now, democracies are a majority. Free market capitalism has brought wealth to much of the world. A tiny fraction of our countless technological pursuits have seen mankind fly like the birds, land on the moon, and connect people all over the world with the simple mouse click. Today people live longer, healthier, happier lives.

Besides bringing an end to World Ware One, World War Two, and the Cold War, we have almost completely stamped out slavery, fascism, communism, and other extremist or oppressive ideologies. For the last century, all we have asked in return for our blood and treasure spent protecting the world is just enough land to bury our dead. Here at home, while we are not perfect, we are closer than ever to truly ridding ourselves of sexism, racial intolerance, religious bigotry, and other forms of discrimination.

Enjoy your burgers, hotdogs, chicken, or choice of veggie substitute. Be dazzled by the sparkling lights in the sky. Today is certainly a day worthy of celebration. Just be sure to take a minute to think about those to who we all owe a debt of gratitude.

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