Even though I was born deep within it’s borders, I didn’t really start to get what America was all about until traveling far outside of them and getting a sense of what goes on in other parts of the world. I’ve come to believe that mankind is nearly the same everywhere…99.9%. We all get up in the morning and go to work one way or another to feed and support ourselves and our families, and we all cherish our children and their futures above all other things. As far as mankind goes, the only real differences in countries and regions are in the dreams of the people who live there. Growing up in America, that difference is hidden…like not seeing the forest because of the trees. Because as you look at this land from afar, the difference can be simply described in two words…hope and freedom. Most take those gifts for granted here, but a lot of people in other parts of the world would give everything they own just for a taste of it.
The last several days as we approached the 4th of July, I found myself looking with interest every time I saw an American flag, the symbol of our country. There are lots of them everywhere you go. It just made me wonder…the farther away from 1776 we get, how has the dream evolved for this country and all of us that are linked to this part of the planet we call America? Lots of fireworks will be exploded, and gatherings large and small will happen today in celebration. This little experiment in government we call America is 234 years old today. A great number of people have sacrificed everything so that we could enjoy this day. It was their dream of hope and freedom that still lives in all of us.
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