Who more than self, their country loved

I love the Fourth of July. Patriotism so often gets co-opted by politicians and used as a euphemism for support of neoconservative foreign policy or belief in American exceptionalism. It can often have a truly ugly connotation. But not on this holiday. Aside from giving us an excuse to grill, watch fireworks, and stay home from work, July 4th provides us an occasion to celebrate the dreams of our nation.

From the somewhat unintentional idealism of our Founding Fathers to the wounds of slavery and civil war, during innovative economic booms and painful recessions, through peacetime and harsh wars, the history of the United States is filled with moments of both pride and shame. It is, of course, important to learn about each. But none of these shared experiences would have been possible without the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War that it sparked. That document, with its self-evident truths and equally created men and unalienable rights, embodies so much of what I think of as the American spirit.

So this weekend I’ll listen to Ray Charles belt out America the Beautiful (a song that I associate with this day even more than the Star Spangled Banner) and eat a burger and some watermelon. But at some point, maybe while watching fireworks explode into the night sky, I’ll be sure to reflect on the founding principles of this fine nation and remember all of the people who have suffered and died to defend and advance these ideals, both domestically and abroad. It is through their courage and determination that we can confidently say that we have a better, more perfect union today than we did 233 years ago. More importantly, this optimism makes me hopeful that the future can only get brighter.

Happy Independence Day.