Talking It Over -- Independence Day every day
Saturday is Independence Day. It doesn't matter if you are reading this on July 3, July 4 or any other day of the year. It is always Independence Day for Americans.
July 4 is typically the day that we set aside to celebrate our independence. However, it is a privilege that we could actually celebrate any day of the year. We are so fortunate in our country to have the freedom to do nearly anything we like and yet with that freedom comes responsibility.
We all know what those basic freedoms are as they are spelled out in the Bill of Rights. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to bear arms, freedom of assembly, the right to a trial by jury and many more.
However, there are a lot of smaller freedoms we take for granted each day that are not necessarily spelled out in this list. For examples we have the freedom to buy and sell property. We are free to phone friends and family and get together whenever we choose. We can shop discriminately, with many options to choose from. We can select a job that suits us, take home the majority of our paychecks, and use it for our own purposes. We can travel freely within our country.
If you stop to think about it, we really do have a lot of freedoms. However, as I noted before, those freedoms come with responsibility. Our No. 1 responsibility is appreciation. We need to recognized what our country stands for and defend it, not only physically but mentally, emotionally and verbally. We also need to not overstep those freedoms in a way that could take away the freedoms or rights of others. In other words, while we exercise our own freedom we should not harm, influence or, in any way, put others at risk.
If you happen to be reading this on Independence Day, I hope you have a wonderful holiday. However, if you are reading it any other day of the year, I also wish you a wonderful Independence Day since every day is a day to celebrate our freedom.
