Independence Day

Independence
\In`de*pend"ence\, n.

The state
or quality of being independent; freedom from dependence; exemption from
reliance on, or control by, others; self-subsistence or maintenance; direction
of one's own affairs without interference.

Let fortune do her worst, . . .
as long as she never makes us lose our honesty and our independence. --Pope.

Declaration of Independence (Amer. Hist.), the declaration of the
Congress of the Thirteen United States of America, on the 4th of July, 1776, by which
they formally declared that these colonies were free and independent States, not
subject to the government of Great Britain.

Source: Webster's Revised
Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Dear friends, I must admit.

With all its faults, with all its people, good and bad.
With all the opinions, ideas, hope, faith, belief.
With all the different religions, languages, thoughts.
With all its priorities, actions, successes, and failures.
With all the differences, with all the similarities.
With all the trials and tribulations.

I love this country. Down to my bones.


And I give thanks that I am here, and that we are all here, committed to doing more for our country and each other.

President Obama said today -

"This weekend, our family will join millions of others in celebrating America. We will enjoy the glow of fireworks, the taste of barbeque, and the company of good friends. As we all celebrate this weekend, let's also remember the remarkable story that led to this day.

Two hundred and thirty-three years ago, our nation was born when a courageous group of patriots pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the proposition that all of us were created equal. Our country began as a unique experiment in liberty -- a bold, evolving quest to achieve a more perfect union. And in every generation, another courageous group of patriots has taken us one step closer to fully realizing the dream our founders enshrined on that great day.

Today, all Americans have a hard-fought birthright to a freedom which enables each of us, no matter our views or background, to help set our nation's course. America's greatness has always depended on her citizens embracing that freedom -- and fulfilling the duty that comes with it.

As free people, we must each take the challenges and opportunities that face this nation as our own. As long as some Americans still must struggle, none of us can be fully content. And as America comes ever closer to achieving the perfect Union our founders dreamed, that triumph -- that pride -- belongs to all of us. So today is a day to reflect on our independence, and the sacrifice of our troops standing in harm's way to preserve and protect it. It is a day to celebrate all that America is. And today is a time to aspire toward all we can still become."

Happy Independence Day, y'all.