Happy Fourth of July! What a fantastic holiday for America. It is the day we celebrate our independence and all that THAT means. I created this piece back in 2023 and wanted to repost it as a reminder that LIBERTY is many things. Liberty is all about having the ability to choose, having options to choose from and having the responsibility to live with the choices we have made. Edward Everett reminds us that education is a safeguard for liberty, more so than a standing army.
That may seem a bit unpatriotic on this our national birthday. And yet, those who gallantly serve in our military would agree that the education they receive as part of their service – training, technology, procedures, comradery, self value and stamina – are something no one can rob them of once their time of service is over. It is that exact educational process that gives them the skills to protect us all. Just like someone who gets any education – trade school, university, high school, apprenticeships – has tools and skills, experience an expertise no one can ever take away. So it is patriotic to celebrate and value the education each of us has earned along our path.
Let us give thanks today for those who have fought the good fight for us to be able to read and write anything we want. Their courage and sacrifices – our parents, teachers, military personnel and even those who have served as a mentor – gave us the ability to choose who we want to be and how we want to live our lives. Now it is up to us to utilize our resources wisely and move our own world forward with courage and joy!
So go eat food cooked outdoors, watch blazing fire works, celebrate with friends and family…or just stay home and binge your favorite show. However you choose to celebrate our national birthday, do it with gusto and give thanks for all those who utilized their education and skills to give you the right to do whatever you want!
Happy Birthday America!
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