Why we choke up when we see our flag, our armed forces.
Our parades.
Our fireworks.
We are happy to have simple food on our picnic tables, burgers and hot dogs, salads and apple pies. We don't need expensive wines or artisanal cheeses to make us happy. We need our families and neighbors pot-lucking with us, sharing our camping experience, rolling up our sleeves keeping streams clean, oceans healthy.
In our private paradise we worship in our own way, and we respect how anyone else worships.
We celebrate our independence on July 4th by meditating on what makes us strong: our amazing journey, from a nation of religious refugees to a nation with open arms to all refugees. We speak many languages and we come from many cultures.
In this new land, our hearts beat as one in our resolve to be the best society humanly possible.
We are proud to be Americans.
33 comments:
i only wish we more often appreciated that melting pot and celebrated out inter dependence...hope you have a great weekend for the holiday!
Happy Independence Day!
Beautifully put. I miss being 'home' on the 4th of July, but always try to celebrate the day wherever I am. Family and friends are the most important part of it with a good sprinkling of sunshine, food and patriotism. Happy Holiday, Rosaria!
I, too, tend to tear up at parades and stuff, too.
Wonderful post! I hope you have a lovely holiday weekend in whatever way you choose!
Amen! Happy 4th of July. Stay safe.
La Fête Nationale here is something too, but I don't think enough French appreciate how free they are.
Here's to the 4th in the US! Enjoy your day.
Oh Rosaria~ You put it so lovely! Happy Independence Day & weekend to you♥
Beautiful. You represent the best and highest hopes of Americans with this post. Made me tear up. Wonderfully written.
Happy 4th of July and avoid traveling on that day. Ignorant Canadian that I am we drove down to Connecticut to visit with our son on that day. We almost starved and ran out of gaz because everything was closed down tight.
As usual, you say it so well, Rosaria...and, given your arrival on these shores at 17, I'm sure you've never taken our independence for granted.
I hope you have the kind of July 4th you have described, in the country you have described.
We Canadians do the same thing on July 1st, but without so much pomp and circumstance. We, by way of national habit, tend to be a bit more restrained or reserved than do you Americans. Mon ami et compatriote Paul confirmeront cette tendance.
Happy 4th of July!
Beautifully said. Hope your have a wonderful Independance Day.
Very well said and it really makes a person stop and think. All the Asians are now beginning their revolutions and will hopefully eventually get rid of dictators and rule themselves. I hope they are as successful as we were on the first July 4th.
Rosaria, you, as one who came to us from a distant shore, say it so well. That America is so much better because of all who came to make us great, makes me so proud. Arm in arm, hand in hand, and, yes, sometimes, butting heads, we grow strong and proud to be American.
G'dat Rosaria. Happy Independence Day. I hope it is a good one for you. Although I am a proud Australian, everything you say applies to us as well. Take care. Liz...
It is good to be back at last catching up with your blogging activities. Thanks for as always giving me something to think about.
From your lips to god's ear!
Beautifully said, Rosaria. You voiced the ideal that so many people who are never "seen" in the news live. Neighbor putting arms around neighbor, sharing the picnic table, rejoicing in everything this country stands for.
Happy Independence Day to you and yours.
Ann Best, Memoir Author
Love those reflections. Happy Independence Day!
I would love it if you could take part in my food/music project. I will leave you a message on your other blog now.
Greetings from London.
Great sentiments...if only everyone felt the same.
HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.
I love this post. We will be at a Native American reservation celebrating with veterans.
Happy Independence Day, Rosaria, to you and yours! I, for one, revel in our "melting pot", as Brian so eloquently put it. I'm glad you chose this country!
Hope you had a very Happy Day!
I do admire the patriotism of Americans living in the USA.
Maggie X
Nuts in May
oh my dear you have said it all
Beautiful, Rosaria.
Happy Independence Day!
Somehow I think that the ones like you who have more recently joined or added to our melting pot realize more than we who have already melded. Happy 4th and all the trimmings.
Happy 4th of July to you and yours.
Nicely put, Rosaria. Hope you have a great 4th!
Wonderful post. Just today driving home from a holiday trip listening to the Giants and Padres baseball game on the radio, during the 7th inning stretch the song, "God Bless America," made me tear up. It happens every time.
A beautiful post and I hope you had a great day.
Thank you, that was lovely
Well said Rosaria...as usual!!
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