A Belated July 4th Message

America, some might say, is about freedom. Or democracy - they seem to be synonymous in todays society (Operation Iraqi Freedom, for example).

Let's not talk about freedom though - nobody's ever really free. And forget about government for a second. Think about it - at any given moment in time, the number of nonpolitical citizens outnumber the political citizens by probably one-thousand to one. I suppose you could say that we're all members of a democratic society, and our participation in it makes us political.

Anyway, you come to the Fourth of July and you think patriotism. But you're not celebrating patriotism, are you? How many people throughout the course of this one day stop and think about our country? Stop and think about it now. You're too late for this year, but maybe not the next.

I know what it's supposed to be about. On July 4th (arguable July 2nd) the Declaration of Independence was signed and the Colonies of America united to repress the rule of Great Britain. On that day, our nation was born. So it's a birthday of sorts.

But how can you celebrate the birthday of an inanimate object? Can America blow out the candles of its 200+ cake? Can you shower it with gifts and thanks? No. So it's more of a birthday for the rest of us, isn't it?

I have a small problem with our nation. With the emphasis we place on the 4th. It seems to me that we're celebrating an independence which the majority of us aren't even prepared to fight for. We live in such a comfortable society that you can go your entire life without giving anything to your country, yet enjoying all the benefits it has to offer.

What am I saying? You don't deserve America. And I'm not saying I do either. Like I said, we're not special for having been born here.

So what you're celebrating isn't America. How can you celebrate something you haven't earned? No, what you're celebrating is community. And it's worth it.

So don't let July 4th pass you by without meaning. Don't use it as a convenient time to quip about the War in Iraq or how our system doesn't work. Be thankful for what you have, and be thankful that nobody is trying to take it from you. Be thankful that there are thousands of young men fighting so that you can enjoy your blissful ignorance. Be thankful for America.