By the time this blog hits the website, we will have celebrated, as a country, our 238th Independence Day. It’s one of my favorite holidays mostly because I get a day to reflect on how wonderful our country really is. Sure, I’ll make some homemade ice cream and we’ll have a barbeque with all the local relatives, but taking some time to reflect on just how great the United State is, is what I really enjoy.
It’s interesting on how we take so much for granted. We went to Flagstaff, AZ to check out a college with our daughter and as I was driving back I was feeling grumpy about how the trip was going to take over 7 hours and it was mostly two lane driving. Why hadn’t they made it four lanes? Then I thought for a moment about what this trip would be like in Afghanistan or Iraq. Dirt roads and at best being able to go 40 mph. Making a 7 hour trip closer to a 12 hour trip. We stopped at a convenience store in Moab to grab something to drink. I was extremely disappointed by the fact that there was no “Unsweetened” iced tea, but plenty of sweetened and flavored iced tea. Then I remembered back a couple of years when I was on a mission trip to Eleuthera Island and went into the village grocery store to find empty shelves or one box of Kleenex, two bananas, no meat, no eggs. You get the picture. We were in the middle of “nowhere” Arizona (actually we were in between Kayenta and Tuba City) and our daughter got a call on her cell phone. The call got dropped and her response was “what’s with no cell service out here?” Really? Isn’t it amazing how much coverage we have for our cells?
We have such an abundance of everything here and it’s due to the foresight and belief of our forefathers that individual freedom and representative government combined with a capitalistic economy can do tremendous things in a society. It doesn’t stifle creativity. It rewards innovation and taking risks. It can create industries that change the world for everyone. Franklin, Adams, Washington, Jefferson and all the others were willing to risk their very lives and property for these things. Millions have died defending this way of life. Millions have left their home country, many times risking their lives, and immigrated here wanting to have a piece of our way of life. We have rights here that you don’t find in most countries around the world. Freedom of religion, freedom of the press, the right to keep and bear arms, freedom of assembly, just to name a few. We can live our life the way we want to live it, independent, as long as we don’t infringe on other’s rights.
I’m afraid that in many ways, our “independence” is becoming more of a dependence. We take too much for granted and get tunnel vision. We forget that our country was built on the notion that hard work was rewarded. That we took care of ourselves and our neighbors and we banded together to solve problems. Being an American was something to be proud of. What was good for the United States was good for the individual. Now many here believe that they are “owed” something. Food, housing, medical care to name a few. We have groups that pound for their own agenda regardless of whether it is good for the country or not. We don’t view ourselves as Americans anymore. We compartmentalize. You’re white, or you’re African American or you’re Christian or you’re gay, you’re pro-life, you’re an environmentalist. An attitude of “what’s good for me is good for me and screw the country” seems to be more prominent these days.
Why I like the 4th of July is because we take a day and set aside a lot of differences, stop criticizing and complaining about what is wrong with our country and we celebrate our freedom and the wonderful place the United States is to live. For one day, we view ourselves as Americans. We just need 364 more 4th of July’s each year.
Mike Berry is a Registered Representative offering securities through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisor Representative, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Legacy Wealth Management, LLC and Cambridge are not affiliated. Cambridge does not offer tax advice.
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