The Matthias Chronicles

Friday, June 27, 2008, 2:38 PM

The Independence of America

by Mar Matthias Darin

As the 4th of July quickly approaches and we as a nation gear up to celebrate Independence Day, lets take a moment to reflect of our Independence as a sovereign nation.

As a independent nation, we have some of the most widely based freedoms in the world. We have a diversity of ethnic groups vieing for a piece of the "American Pie". We have more religious freedoms than any other country on the planet. We have the freedom to choose our sexual orientations. We have the freedom to speak out against our government. We even have the freedom to burn the nation's flag. We even have the freedom to vote for our government representatives.

Some in the world argue that we have so much freedom that we have forgotten how to appreciate our freedom and the cost we have paid and continue to pay for it. Some say the we have so much freedom that we call a right what other countries regard as a true freedom. Medical assistance and food are just two examples of this. Some in the world say we have so much freedom that we are destroying our own nation.

So as we look forward to the three day holiday and the fireworks and the beer, hamburgers, and hot dogs and the time with our families, I suggest we actually think about the freedoms we have and appreciate the fact that the men and women in our all volunteer military has made a high sacrifice for us to continue to abuse our freedoms.

I say abuse rather then use simply because we really do abuse and misuse our freedoms. Gays or homosexuals are executed in Iran and many other parts of the world, yet here they are free to make public spectacles out of themselves. In Africa, speaking out against the government will get you shot on sight for committing Treason against the State while here we can call the President of the United States anything we want.

We waste vast untold amounts of food just to satisfy our gluttony while in Africa, parts of India, parts of Asia, and other areas, they eat "mud cookies" and are grateful they have that much. We have the freedom to whine and cry about the price of gas while a large portion of the world is too poor to even own a car, let along buy the gas for it.

We have the choice to believe or not believe in anything we choose while many communist, fascist and totalitarian governments seek to kill and silence anyone that does not think and believe as they do. We have the freedom to worship any god we choose while many people in the world are told who or what to worship at the threat of death.

We have the freedom to seek medical help while in some countries there is no medical help at all. We have some of the best medicines on the planet while many people in third world countries suffer and die from diseases we have cured.

We have the freedom to get drunk and do stupid things while other in our world struggle to to survive. We have the freedom to join our military while other countries demand a mandatory call to service.

And yes, we have our problems. We have the freedom to be sexist, racist, greedy, gluttoness, selfish and many other vices but at least we are free to do so. So while we are parting and having a good time laughing it up this 4th of July, take a few minutes to think of all the people that won't be celebrating their freedom or eating at all while we pig out.

We really do have a great country and have many freedoms to celebrate while others do not. Perhaps as American citizens, its time to constructively use our many wonderful freedoms instead of abusing them the way we do.

Happy Independence Day.

Comments from Wess Stewart

Very well said. We do tend to take things for granted, don't we? We have it very well and complain when we are slightly inconvenienced. Good post.

Comments from Ankit Gupta

happy independence day

Comments from Mar Matthias Darin

Thank you both.