The 5th Of July

Yes, I meant to write the 5th.  Yes, I know that it isn’t the 5th of July anymore.  This past weekend was the 4th of July weekend.  I absolutely love this holiday.  Not just because it is a holiday or we don’t have to do anything or because there are fireworks, but for what it really means.

We are here in this country with the freedoms that we have because of this holiday.  Many people have given their lives to secure this right for us.  For that we will always be in their debt.  Think of all the things we take for granted.  We have certain unalienable rights.  We have a Bill of Rights.  We are free to chase our dreams.  We are free to choose our own elected officials.  We are free to believe what we want.  Does that mean everything is perfect?  No.  Of course not.  But it is a major start.  Think about the current issues in Iran.  Think about Honduras.  What if we had a leader like Kim Jong-il, the Ayatollah, Fidel Castro, or Hugo Chávez?  We don’t worry about someone murdering others in an effort to take over the presidency!  Because of this holiday we live in a land of opportunity.  It’s a land where all men are created equally.  I’m not sure it gets better than this.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

– The Declaration Of Independence

That is a pretty bold statement that our country lives by.  It is our job to uphold that.  True no place is ever going to be perfect, but like I said before, this is a very good start.  So as the holiday known as the 4th of July is in the rearview mirror, let’s not forget it.  Live it on the 5th of July.  Live it on the 6th of July.  Live it on the 4th of August.  Live it on the 1st of January.  Live it on the 15th of April.  There is so much more to it than just one day that we all run to the local Walmart to purchase lots of stuff that makes us look like we are patriotic, cookout, put out flags, decorate our yards, have a parade, watch some fireworks, and go to bed like it’s just another day.  It’s not.  There is more to being a patriot than that.  Honor those that have fallen to provide this land of opportunity for you and your family.  Support the government and pray for its leaders.  If you disagree about something, do something about it.  Be the change that you wanna see.  Don’t just sit back and complain.  Our government is set up to work for the people.

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

– The Constitution

I say that we should get just as excited about these statements as we do speeches in movies.  I say that every day in the United States of America should be the 4th of July.  I say we celebrate the 5th of July, too.