Happy Birthday, America!

When parents have children, they hope those children will outlive them. When entrepreneurs start companies they hope the same, as do those who write books, craft songs, plays, sermons, and invention things. I am certain that the men — and women — who were responsible for the founding of the United States of America hoped the same for their new country. But would it last?

technicalities

The title of this article might be called into question by some who are sticklers for a certain kind of accuracy. Specifically the term America wouldn’t be celebrated on July 4, and if it were, it wouldn’t be its 250th year, it would be more like its 519th. The name was given after Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian explorer who promoted the idea that the lands sailed to by Christopher Columbus in 1492 were actually part of a separate continent. That was, according the Library of Congress, “a revolutionary concept.” The name America appeared for the first time on a map created in 1507 by Martin Waldseemüller.

As for “birthday,” there are those who argue that the USA was not born, so this is an anniversary. But I looked it up, and one definition of the term “birthday” is “the anniversary of something being started or founded.” Probably the best term to use is neither anniversary nor birthday, but Independence Day. That is what we are celebrating to be sure. But I love saying Happy Birthday America, so I’m sticking with it.

The term Happy might be the most controversial of all, because there are many who focus on problems and issues and things they just plain don’t like about America, and I guarantee you will find someone who will say it can’t be happy. Pooh.

Like many others, I battled cancer for a number of years, and not once during that time did I not accept or believe that my birthday was a happy day. And that is undoubtedly a very weak illustration of a person with a problem that still celebrates the day. Yes, there are those who might say (under dire circumstances) that they wish they’d never been born. They might even believe it. But there are few, even of the major complainers about America, who wish America had never declared independence.

So Happy Birthday, America! And many more!!

celebrate

When you have a birthday meal, including (of course) birthday cake, you aren’t counting calories. Your purpose is to enjoy the moment with friends and family, to indulge a little and smile a lot. It is not a time for grumpiness, for moping about the past. It is a time for laughter and fond memories of good times. It is also a great time to be thankful for the blessings in your life. Friends wish you well, and some even buy you cards or take the time to send good wishes. You get presents, which was the really big deal about having birthdays when we were little kids.

How do we celebrate the Independence Day? With fireworks, which are visual expressions of the joy that is leaping from our hearts and minds as we remember the blessings we have for living in America, a most amazing country. By flying a flag or waving a flag or marching in a parade or (as my wife did) by placing an arrangement of red, white, and blue flowers on a kitchen table. You can even wear red-white-and-blue so people can see that you are thinking about America. And we celebrate by giving thanks to Almighty God for watching over this amazing country for 250 years.

I started celebrating with my attire on Thursday, when I donned navy blue golf shorts, a red, white, and blue striped golf shirt, and a navy leather belt with an buckle that depicts the American flag. I put on a white golf cap with the State 48 logo on it that looks like an American flag. Some people noticed, I suppose, though no one said a word. It didn’t matter — I was helping everyone who saw me think about America.

Whether you go to church or play in a golf tournament or cook out (hot dogs and hamburgers!) or march in a parade, share your celebration with others when you can. Watching fireworks alone is cool, watching them from the back of a pickup truck with friends and family is even cooler.

remember, and carry on

The freedoms we enjoy in America are far greater than almost every other country in the world. Freedom of speech alone tends to amaze those who visit America from European and some Asian countries. To vote for independence from the United Kingdom — which happened on July 2, 1776 — was one of the boldest and bravest acts you can imagine. Those who were directly involved in the founding all knew the cost would be great. In fact, the final sentence of the Declaration of Independence, signed by 56 men, says, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

Many of them gave their fortunes, and even their lives, but they retained their sacred honor.

And now it is up to us, the citizens of the United States of America, to carry the torch of freedom. There is no better way to celebrate America than to do our part in keeping it, in growing it, and in preserving it for future generations.

Two of the signers of the Declaration (and both were very involved in writing it) were Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. They knew each other for 50 years, and were friends and political foes. Very different men, but both critical to the history of the United States. Jefferson said, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” Adams wrote, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Two brilliant and prescient statements by two former presidents who both died on July 4, 1826, exactly 200 years ago this Independence Day. I am thankful for them, and I am thankful for freedom.

Happy Birthday, America! And many more.