Saturday, July 2, 2005

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

If I knew how to put in graphics and backgrounds, my journal would be filled with American Flags today.  Every day of my life, I celebrate that I am an American citizen and entitled to all the rights and privileges thereof.

I know that may sound hokey to say, but the news alone will show you how other countries treat their citizens.  Most of you know that I lived in Mexico for 15 years.  I got used to the culture there and conformed to their way of doing things, but there was such injustice. 

Like Chicago (for example) in the '30's, men paid higher officials to get jobs as police officers, even to get a job as a trash collector.  Politics is corrupt, though they hold what they call free elections.  The guy with the most toys usually wins.  Education is mandatory but not free.  Birth certificates are not automatically filed - you must pay to do that.  Without a birth certificate, you can't go to school or get a job outside of the migrant camps. It's against the law to have a traffic accident.  There's no health care for people who have no money.  I could go on forever.

We often take for granted our hard-won freedom in the United States.  We get angry at public officials who let us down.  We demonstrate for fairness in government and we truly have free elections.  We won't be shot for speaking out.  Sure, things are expensive and it seems so hard to make ends meet, but our government is the best in the world.  There are others who have democracy, but we Americans are spoiled.  We have the best.

Our men and women of the armed forces are fighting now to maintain that freedom.  Whether you agree with the war or not, please give them their due.  Show your loyalty to the country by reaching out to them, sending letters or packages or offering help to their families at home.  They are the life's blood of America and I am so proud of them.  If I were young again, I would enlist and encourage my friends to do so. Apathy is not an option here.  We owe all our freedoms to them, past present and future. 

Hang your flags proudly this weekend and remember while watching the fireworks, having the barbecue or campout - you can do these things because you are free citizens of the United States of America.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

cannot help with the backgrounds but if you want help on putting on graphics, please feel free to ask.  Happy 4th July.

Anonymous said...

This is so true and such beautifully written. Love you, lisa

Anonymous said...

Bravo! Perfect 4th entry... And, if you would like I could e-mail you how to put graphics in.. it's really easy!
http://journals.aol.com/astaryth/AdventuresofanEclecticMind

Anonymous said...

Great entry. I agree. We are so priviledged and so many don't even realize it. I honor our troops although sad they are there and don't necessarily think they should have to be there. But have so much gratitude thanks and honor what they do for us and having so much courage and conviction in their hearts.. We do have the best and are so blessed. ~ Lori

Anonymous said...

what a great entry ...

Anonymous said...

Happy 4th Penny!  An excellent entry!  I agree, we don't know how good we have it in the United States of America.
Lisa

Anonymous said...

Excellent!  I thank God often for how good I have it!  I am very, very aware that I live like a rich queen compared to most of the world and am so blessed! xox
http://journals.aol.com/valphish/ValsThoughts

Anonymous said...

Thank you for visiting my journal and leaving a comment.  This is a great read.  Wish it was mandatory!  And yes Pennie is a wonderful name.  It's golden!  Pennie