Happy 4th Of July!

Today is the 4th of July.

For many of my fellow Americans, this is a day of celebration that’s likely to include cookouts, fireworks, cold drinks, and any number of patriotic displays. Whether it takes the form of a parade, waving American flags, or just wearing something red, white, and blue, this is the time to celebrate the best our country has to offer. As an American, I intend to do my part.

I’ve got a six-pack of beer.

I’ve got a pack of hot dogs.

I’ve got burger patties, buns, and enough ketchup to last for the rest of the summer.

And not far from where I live, there’s a fireworks display that I can usually see from the roof of my home. I am as prepared as any citizen can be to celebrate America. And I intend to do so.

Now, I understand it has become difficult for many Americans to celebrate when news, politics, and social ills seem populate our media feeds at every waking hour. I freely admit that the constant barrage of soul-crushing, heartbreaking, and utterly infuriating stories has affected me. I’ll even freely admit it has weakened my once robust faith in humanity.

The fact that 2024 is an Election Year is also not lost upon me, but I’d rather not dwell on that today.

I freely admit America has its flaws, as a nation and as a society. You don’t have to look too far back in history to find those flaws. You also don’t have to look hard to find major flaws today. But that’s okay. Every nation and every society that has ever existed has had flaws. That’s because human beings, as a whole, are very flawed. But that’s all the more reason to strive to be better versions of ourselves.

As Americans, we can certainly do better on many fronts. But for today, let’s just set the politics and social issues aside. Let’s table our many problems for a brief moment to just acknowledge how far we’ve come. America, for all its flaws and missteps, is a wonderful nation full of amazing people.

That’s worth celebrating.

That’s worth cherishing.

That’s worth sharing good food, cold drinks, and some fireworks on a hot summer day.

There will be plenty of time to confront the many issues facing this country and its role in the world. For now, let’s celebrate!

To my fellow Americans, Happy 4th of July!