Happy 4th of July

It's that time of the year again; when grass catches on fire, firefighters spend their evenings responding to burn victims and brush fire incidents and rockets boom in the air. All in celebration of our Independence Day. For most of us, it's an opportunity to drink, watch fireworks, grill and hang out with friends during the summer. For the rest of us, it's often a time of reflection.

Today is the day in 1776, that the Declaration of Independence was signed declaring that Great Britain no longer had the power to rule us or tax us because they were, as it would seem, an entire world away. It was not fair to have a ruler who never spent time in this land to dictate what we could and couldn't do or tax us to the extreme. How wonderful it was, how right it was to declare independence. This was the beginning of the future. From this point on, we desired a free nation; freedom of speech, freedom of religion. The constitution was born in 1787 and since then we've been going at full speed.

We want our freedom of speech, we want to be able to call others stupid or have things the way we want them. How do this historical actions guide and dictate what we do today? As a strong leader we're often expected to step in and resolve other countrys' situations, but sometimes or most often we cross the boundary of being helpful or being imperialistic. We often force our own ideals on others...sometimes when they're not wanted we still cram them down other people's throats.

We think that because we're one of the strongest and that we're a democratic nation with the freedom to do most anything we want; that our way is the best way. Never mind the fact that as one of the smallest nations in terms of population we consume the most resources. Millions are left without healthcare, or that thousands of people live on the street begging for food.

Surely there's something we can do better...Every country has its problems; its pros and cons when it comes to the type of government it chooses....dictatorships are certainly not fair hence the desire to get North Korean's President out of the picture. But intead of imposing our form of government on everyone else, isn't it about time we used our resources to help those in need? Feed the hungry, care for those who are wounded and sick, give shelter to the homeless. Help provide clean drinking water, make education in the states better.

"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan –– to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations. "

- Abraham Lincoln March 4, 1865 (Second Inagural Address)