Celebrating Independence

July is a good month, summer is here!  Well, this year it’s been cold and rainy so far, so hopefully by the time you read this summer will have arrived.  It would be nice to get to the beach at least once, or twice. 

This month we celebrate American Independence, the Declaration of our independence from English rule, the month we celebrate the idea of America, the idea that all men are created equal and deserve the opportunity to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.  July is a good month to remind us that we should regularly declare our individual independence and nurture the spirit of self-reliance.  Sometimes we may need help, but it’s nice to remember and value our freedom as individuals and as a country. 

It takes time to build things well.  When a builder is constructing a house, it’s going to take several months until you have a finished product.  And I’m sure many would complain that the quality of construction these days isn’t as good as it used to be, you know, as it was “back in the good ole days”.  Things were built better back then, we say.

And we’re probably right, things were likely built better back then.  Back when craftsmen had great concern for their workmanship and reputation, before the almighty dollar became the be all and end all.   Sometimes it would be nice to go back, back to when everything was better.

And if we go way back, to when this country was built, I hope we still believe that it was built well.  Not perfect perhaps, because nothing is perfect, but to me it seems the architecture and engineering was well done, the foundation and framework were solid and true, and this construction of America was unlike anything seen before in history.  It was as if a new architect was born and designed a country with this radical new idea that individual freedom should be principal number one.  It hasn’t been perfect, and that’s ok.  As Winston Churchill once said, “democracy is the worst form of government, except for all of the others.”   Some may point out that we are a republic, not a true democracy, and that’s good, I’m glad you’re paying attention.  It's important to understand how this thing was built.  We may feel the American idea is tested from time to time, but my hope is that our foundation remains strong, that we’re able to remain resilient, and that we not only survive, but thrive.  Perhaps we’re like that old New England house that needs some work but has “good bones”.  No matter how we may appear on the outside, we are strong on the inside.  May we celebrate our Independence Day and be thankful for what we have and where we live.    

"Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity." - Herbert Hoover.