Happy Birthday America!

Let’s step back and take a deep breath folks: It’s America’s birthday! This weekend begins the celebration.

How about we set aside all the negativism of partisan election politics for one weekend and celebrate our country’s birthday together. 

How about we let our hair down (or whatever metaphor seems appropriate) and grill some burgers or hotdogs or barbeque some chicken; make a batch of sweet tea or lemonade or enjoy some adult beverages, and gather our neighbors together in order to throw one great big hellacious birthday party for our country. 

America deserves a party. She deserves a party for many reasons and here are my top five:

One, and this may seem a bit too obvious, but I call the United States of America home. Unlike my wife who willfully chose to become an American I inherited my native birthright. I was born an American through no choice of my own; this was the fate that I was handed and I am so blessed that she smiled on me in such a way. 

Yes we both are proud Americans! We don’t worship America but we both love her.

Two, America is a country that celebrates diversity. I once heard someone describe America as the world’s melting pot. I disagree! A melting pot distills everyone into a look-alike mold. It attempts to purge the impurities from within and create sameness.

We haven’t always dealt with diversity in good or healthy ways but I believe we are trending in that direction. This is the part of evolution that excites me. 

We are a nation that is becoming more today than we were yesterday.

Three, America is a nation of many faiths (or no faith) and no one faith has priority over all others. The freedom of religion allows each American to practice whatever faith or non-faith one chooses. The Founding Fathers objected, and rightly so, to religious tyranny. They opposed a State sanctioned religion or a State controlled Church. They would have been appalled over any attempt to make America a one brand religious nation.

I love this country because one is free to live according to one’s own religious conviction without fear of persecution or rejection. I love America because the Founding Fathers were wise enough not to establish a theocracy. I love America because its leaders do not have to pass a religious test in order to become our leaders and we don’t have to pass a religious test to be good citizens.

I cherish the freedom from religion as much as I cherish freedom of religion.

Four, America deserves a birthday party because she has always been great—from day one. Now being great does not imply America is perfect or beyond healthy critique. This great Democratic Republic has made some serious blunders along the way; she is misguided every now an again. But America is one of the most resilient and self-correcting nations on earth.

We admit our mistakes. We adjust. We make corrections. We right the wrongs of the past. We don’t always get it right but we keep trying. 

This is what makes America great in my opinion.

Five, America deserves a huge hellacious birthday party because it is her 240th birthday. 

We are still here! 

We aren’t going anywhere soon. 

We refuse to step back in time because we fear an uncertain future. America does not have the taste for antiquated or outdated thinking. We believe there is a hopeful future for our nation, a future that includes everyone. We believe that the great American story continues to be written.

We are a nation of incredible potential. We will not be driven by fear. We refuse to be guided by myopic or antiquated thinking. We will stand on our Democratic principles come hell or high water. We will continue to be a generous and welcoming nation. 

We will continue to be driven by the vision of 1776.

Our country was an awesome idea in 1776 and it still is!

Perhaps you may want to share your reason or reasons why you will celebrate America’s birthday this weekend!