Red, white, and blue are the colors to wear on the 4th of July. Our great nation has been around since 1776. Though far from perfect, no country in history has been greater. Those of us who were born here are truly blessed, no matter what side of the proverbial track we come from. Our lives may not be perfect, but it’s not likely America’s fault. In fact, this may be the easiest place in the world to rise from the ashes. Check out the following reasons to be happy you can proudly sing, “Born in the U.S.A.”!
1- Land of the Free
Brave men unwilling to tolerate the tyranny of Great Britain gave up everything to establish this great land of the free. The original 13 British colonies in North America went to war with Britain and won our freedom, with French forces as our allies. The American Revolutionary War started in 1775. With the war in full swing, the Continental Congress voted to adopt the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The U.S.A. was born that day! The war continued through 1783.
However, more conflict with Great Britain was ahead regarding British violations of U.S. maritime rights. Our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” was written by a witness of the War of 1812 who saw the British bombarding Fort McHenry in Maryland. Originally a poem, our national anthem was written on June 13, 1814, by Francis Scott Key.
2- Opportunity
The American Dream is about everyone having the opportunity to achieve their dreams. The entire world knows that the U.S. is where anyone has the best chances of living that dream. Many past errors and atrocities against various people groups notwithstanding, progress has been made so that absolutely anyone with determination, hard work, sacrifice, know-how, and/or a huge dose of luck can live their best life.
3- Natural Wonders
Within each of the 50 states in the U.S., there are amazing places full of natural wonders. These are no cookie-cutter scenes. Uniqueness abounds from sea to sea. In addition to the one-of-a-kind Grand Canyon in Arizona and Niagara Falls in New York, which is shared with Canada, we have Old Faithful in Wyoming, stunning Death Valley and jaw-dropping redwoods in California, Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, and Bryce Canyon in Utah. These are just a few of many thrilling sights. We also have a bounty of national parks. Exploring all that the U.S. has to offer could take a lifetime!
4- People and Diversity
The American spirit is powerful and extremely diverse. It’s only in politics that we become divided because for the vast majority of these 243 years, our unity is more pronounced than anything. Parts of history deprecate this claim, but corrections have been made throughout history. Look no further than our response to 9/11 to see the quality of people here. Even during the more recent catastrophic tragedy associated with Hurricane Harvey, the spirit of Americans was abundantly on display with neighbors helping neighbors with no regard for race, economic standing, or anything else that the media inaccurately tells us we are divided by.
Celebrate the U.S. this July 4th
There is so much more that could be said about the U.S. We gave the world electricity, cars, the Internet, Hollywood, trendy fashions, music, so much more, with virtually every other nation following suit in many ways all along the way. Congratulations on being born in the world’s biggest trendsetting culture. What will you do with your freedom?
