Independence Day 2010 – You’ve Got to Believe

On this day of celebration in the United States, I’m kicking back enjoying the day outside with drink in hand. And like any other July 4th weekend I can’t help but reflect back on the history of my country…

- former colonies of the British Empire hundreds of years ago

- to rebel colonies defying the crown

-a new independent fledgling nation; that had to repel the British Empire a 2nd time roughly 40 years after the Revolutionary war

- to major player on the world stage and youngest country to achieve “super power” status

What is sad to note though is just how much we’ve seemingly lost faith in the ideals, beliefs and principles that our forefathers once shed blood and tears for to found and establish our young nation…proving to the world that we deserved our independence and were not afraid to do what was necessary to keep it. At the time, independence meant freedom to determine our own destiny unhindered by the British crown. This eventually expanded to mean independence from any other sovereign nation that would mean to do us harm or to hinder our ability to grow and prosper as a nation – as a people. Present day, I think this also means independence from any group or entity that threatens our security and ability to live as Americans.

And this is not an American thing – independence and freedom is something anyone and everyone should have if they want it.

But what ever happened to our American conviction – our belief in ourselves and in the underlying principles on which our nation was founded? What happened to the pride we used to have as Americans because we believed in our country’s guiding principles?

I know we don’t have a spotless record as a nation for always making the right decisions. But please tell me of a nation on this planet that has? And we as people – who among us in our everyday lives have made perfect decisions everyday? The answer is obvious – and dragging our country through the mud for every wrong doing without celebrating all the good things it has done is clearly a one-sided and inaccurate viewpoint.

How would you like it if you were nagged for everything wrong you’ve done in your life but never praised or recognized for the good you’ve done? I think you’d probably hate it.

My point is, lets stop doing what is “fashionable” lately (as seen in the media and as practiced by everyone from Main St. America to Capitol Hill)…that is, blaming our country and focusing on mistakes like it was going out of style. Let’s once again take the high-road and focus on what we can do to be better and celebrate our nation’s achievements. Lets be proud of what our nation, at its foundation, represents and remember that it is good. You don’t have to agree with everything being done in Washington D.C. – but at the very least believe in the principles our country was founded on. We the people are the only ones who can set our nation on the right course…don’t depend on the politicians to do our work. The people, since day-one of our country’s existence, were in the driver’s seat – not politics or the politicians.

Fly those flags high on this day and believe – and if you don’t have one, get one.

Happy independence day America.

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