July Fourth, Seventeen Hundred and Seventy-six

Today in America, we celebrate our independence from Great Britain.  Two hundred and forty-five years ago today, a group of patriots said to the British monarchy and to the world, we are “Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown.”  These were bold words considering King George had already made it clear that they would be considered traitors to the crown and their lives would be forfeit if they continued their insurrection.  They had already conspired against Britain.  But when they declared the independence of the United States and signed the document, they effectively signed their own death decrees.  They risked their lives because the freedom we have all enjoyed since this date 245 years ago was that important.  Since that day, many have risked and lost their lives for the American ideals written in that document 245 years ago.   Many considered it a privilege to defend those ideals with their lives.  Today, we revere those people and the ideals they have defended.

There has been a great political divide in America lately.  We have not been so divided since the Civil War (although honestly, my recollection of political strife goes back only so far).  We are all fairly evenly divided about whether we should return to the traditional ways or to progress forward and try new ideas.  My grandmother once told me this was the base distinction between Republicans and Democrats…Republicans are traditional, and Democrats are progressive.  I believe this is a good starting place, but it obviously goes much deeper than that.  We all want to preserve “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,” but we have differing ways which we believe it should be done. 

Regardless of politics, we are all Americans today.  Keep in mind, America had no political parties when the Declaration of Independence was written and submitted to King George, separating from Great Britain and giving birth to this nation.

Let me repeat…WE ARE ALL AMERICANS TODAY.  If you have a problem with America and American ideals, let it rest until tomorrow.  Today is not the day for your protests, complaints, your politics, or your insults.  Today we celebrate the reason you have the right to make you complaints heard but let us hear them on some other day.  Today is for the celebration of America, those who fought for America, and for the freedoms we all enjoy because of those people and their bravery.

– Big Steve