Happy Birthday America!

America has problems, serious problems. But that does not negate the fact that the U.S. is still one of the greatest nations on the face of the Earth. This land has become a refuge for the world's downtrodden. It was - and still can be - the land of opportunity. There are days that some of us are less than thrilled with how the "voice of the American people" speaks and the lack of action on the part of our government to rectify the inequalities and right the wrongs. However, there is no denying that this nation was intended to be built on the precept that all are afforded certain rights:

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.
We must admit that we do have certain rights that many throughout the world do not. For example, I can write these words without fear of being tracked down and labeled a treasonous dissident or worse a traitor. We have the luxury of being free in so many areas of our lives that we often forget and take them for granted.

I am not suggesting that we roll over and let sleeping dogs lie. We must all do our part to ensure that these freedoms and rights remain and apply to ALL.

So as you celebrate, as you set off your bottle rockets, swirl your sparklers, enjoy your BBQs, dive into that pool, and chug that beer remember what this day represents: the sacrifice of the men and women who helped build this nation on the basis of Freedom.

Happy Birthday America!
BEHR HUGS!