The Grateful American
I have to admit that I haven’t always been the biggest flag waving person in the USA. It may be the half German in me that has always had a guarded fear of over the top nationalism. We all know what happened when Germany went over the top with national pride, don’t we? I’ve preferred to think of myself as an American citizen of Mother Earth.
That said, I know how extremely fortunate I am to be an American. In how many other countries would the very first sentence of this post get me thrown in jail? Many, no doubt. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that freedom of speech is listed first in our Constitution. It’s just one of the freedoms I so cherish and whose importance is really being hammered home as I follow the events unfolding in Iran.
I celebrate the 4th of July as a grateful American. As an American citizen of Mother Earth, my heart also goes out to the Iranians who long for, who are fighting for, the very freedoms I celebrate today.
Happy Birthday, USA. May we continue to be the example of freedom for the rest of world.
Wow, talk about a tribute to the USA. I am sure many will agree with you. I had to become a citizen myself many years ago, many, many years ago. As for me I am German and Polish, a double whammy. I hope everyone enjoys there 4th and remembers why we get to celebrate it.
Sometimes it truly takes a sense of history to realize our place in this world and this country. I, too, am a “grateful American”, with a healthy dose of cautious skepticism. As I’m only second-generation American (and have lived abroad), I hear ya!