July 4. A Celebration Of Freedom.

By Karen and Erica

July Fourth is almost here. The quintessential American celebration.

July 4 is, of course, a day to celebrate our beloved country. John Adams had this to say about the first such celebration (on July 2):

The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.

We grew up loving this celebration–one of us in the U.S., one of us abroad while her parents served this country. We grew up proud Americans. We were proud even when, just coming of age as citizens, we protested governmental action, like the Vietnam war. And when, in 1968 we endured three terrible assassinations, and in 1970, the Kent State killings, and other shocking events. We understood that our country and its citizens were not perfect. We knew that we were all striving to create a shining city on the hill, a city we saw the way Ronald Reagan saw it:

I’ve spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don’t know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That’s how I saw it, and see it still.

We also see the city still. We are privileged to be here, and with that privilege goes the responsibility of helping to make sure that the city on the hill remains a beacon for all.

We hope that all of you who celebrate freedom have a day full of sun and parades, hot dogs and ice cream, and sparklers and fireworks. Take pride in being part of the amazing project that is the United States of America. And remember–we have work to do. So that, in Lincoln’s words, this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Happy Fourth.