America ~ land of the Free, home of the Brave

Out of many, one nation was formed

The best of ideals, the best of intentions

Freedom for all, governed by the people, for the people

We gathered together on this distant shore, a cornucopia of races and creeds

All striving for a better world for our children and generations to come

A patchwork of ideas woven into one desire, yearning to be free from oppression

Our Nation has undergone birth pangs to be sure, civil war, social unrest

We shall soon celebrate our 232nd year of Independence as a nation

Difference of opinions abound yet, we have the freedom of expression

We must heal the partisan divide which has crept into governance

For a house divided, shall not stand

Black and White, Red, Yellow and Brown all yearning for common ground

Our founding document was flawed and incomplete, a work in progress

It made plain all men were created equal yet, slavery and occupation coexisted

Through all these trials, we as a people have overcome these discrepancies

Slowly, sometimes painfully we matured as a nation

America, land of the Free, home of the Brave, less a statement, more of a promise

Our work is still incomplete, contradictions are still replete

A wealthy nation yet so many poor are left behind, waiting for their turn to arrive

A product unfinished should not be exported to foreign markets

We have much to be proud of, great accomplishments have we achieved

We can ill afford to rest on our laurels', complacent and proud

It is the duty of each generation to vouchsafe our freedoms, lest we lose them

For if we take our freedoms for granted, as if guaranteed by inheritance

We shall fall victim to arrogance and misplaced pride

For far too long our nations youth have been neglected being taught civics

How many of this generation and the next have studied the Constitution, the Bill of Rights

How many of this generation and the next harbor civic pride and responsibility

We lay claim to being a nation United yet, we've become fractured and divided

Our common goal has become less national and more individual

I believe this is due to our Government becoming more Capitalistic than Democratic

Capitalism and a desire for soft living has fractured our society into the Haves and have-nots

While Capitalism is a good model for economic well-being, it is not beneficial for governance

When you gather together this Independence Day with family and friends

I ask each of you, to reflect on what it means to be an American.

Amidst the hotdogs and apple pie, place a copy of the Declaration of Independence The Constitution of these United States and the Bill of Rights.

Take a few moments with family and friends to reflect upon this legacy you've been handed

For if you celebrate our Independence absent understanding, what have you gained

If you neglect this civic responsibility and rely upon ours to shoulder the burden

You risk losing your voice on the direction your nation follows

In a Democracy, your silence gives others permission to chart your destiny for you

Are you willing to simply be a passenger on this great voyage or, a crewmember?

Celebrate America's great achievements but, do not be blinded to her transgressions

For to lose sight of past misdeeds and misguided foibles is akin to navigating a ship by the brightness of the Sun.

You risk being blinded by passions and ambitions, you risk running this mighty ship upon the rocks of adversity, just shy of the shores of the Promised Land.