Happy independence day!

A big salute to the men and women over the decades that have allowed us to maintain and enjoy our freedom.

There is no better country on the planet. We should all feel blessed to live in the USA.

The 4th of July is maybe my fav holiday. The freedom that we enjoy should never be taken for granted.

God bless everyone in my DC family, and God bless this country.

I hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th of July - Live Free or Die!

Quiet and peaceful........no fireworks allowed in the Denver metro area, sigh. Hope all had a good time yesterday.

I disagree, I dont think USA is the best country on the Earth. Objectively, maybe, but from my point of view, it is not so hot. I do not live there, so I cant enjoy all the benefits. They may have made some cool games which I play, their NASA explore space to satisfy my curiosity on their website, however, it would be better for me as a person, if the USA would be a colony of Great England.

Sorry, but as a foreigner, I do not share your enthusiasm.

Still, Happy Independance Day.

Sokoro wrote:

however, it would be better for me as a person, if the USA would be a colony of Great England.

Sokoro,

There are several reasons we separated from momma England. That discussion, however, would be for another time and place. But note how close our two countries are.

I would, however, like to address a little bit of recent history with you since it looks like your national history books do not tell you much. Please understand that you DO enjoy some of the benefits from the United States of America indirectly.

Please keep in mind how much your country and your life would be different if we had not sent troops and war materials to Europe twice (not to mention rebuilding Europe after WWII) in the last century and stood firm against the former USSR to boot. How much did those actions cost us in lives and money? How about the fifty plus years of actual, financial, and moral support we gave to Europe afterwards? What about our dead that still lie in France, Germany, Belgium, and other graveyards in the nations of Europe. The USA bled in EVERY European country (past, present, and future) during those two wars and their aftermath. I personally have close relatives who lie in France, Germany, and Italy who died in combat while trying to give folks their nation back.

Now, France, along with other German conquered nations spit on us, defame us, defile us, etc.. Why? Because we rescued them from the Germans twice and their national pride will not allow them to live with the fact. The Germans do the same to us because they had Europe conquered twice until the USA stepped in, again their national pride will not allow them to live with it. So please, do not go there as I and other folks in this nation DO remember history, both good and bad.

Sure, we make mistakes but what the USA stands for and has stood for since we gained independence from England makes for great hatred among 60% or better of the world's leaders since the tincup dictators cannot hide behind their masks anymore. We cannot be too far off our beliefs if we have immigrants from all over the world, legal and illegal, trying to get in any way they can so they can enjoy the rights and freedoms not found in 90% of the world, not to mention the financial stability we have enjoyed for the last 236 years. Sure, we have our ups and downs financially but even the poorest citizens of this nation have access to things that most of the world could only dream of.

Can you say that for your nation?

Yet, if your nation was invaded by another nation or injured by national disaster, we would be there to help, no matter the cost. That's why the citizens of this country call our country the GREATEST in the world. It is not the physical location of our country that matters with us as so much that it is what's in our hearts and our beliefs from every single man, woman, and child, regardless of our racial background and experiences. We are STILL one nation under GOD and most all of us try to live our lives according to GOD's laws.

Our national message is simple, yet complex. We, as a nation, care. We care about the burdens, trials, and tribulations our brothers and sisters of the world carry. We care about the poverty, famine, and natural/manmade disasters that happen, but we also know that we cannot solve everything by ourselves.

Yet, we try.

OK, I'll get off my soapbox.

Well said!

Seconded. Well put Demon.

The only thing I will add to your comments is that often Americans are described as "arrogant", and it makes me disappointed and a bit sad.

I believe our pride in our country is often mistaken for arrogance. The majority of Americans who describe this as the greatest country in the world do so because they believe in the freedom and wonderful opportunities that we have strived to achieve over the decades and centuries.

We will not, and should not, apologize for our success. No country is perfect. The best we can do as citizens is learn from the mistakes we have made, and do our best to ensure we do not repeat them.

Unlike some of our own citizens who for whatever reason feel ashamed or guilty for the blessings this country has received, the vast majority only feel pride, loyalty, and optomism for the future.

It may sound cliche or corny to some, but as a grown man, I still tear up a bit when I hear the Star Spangled Banner and see our flag waving. Those symbols mean something. They have earned respect and pride based on blue collar schlubs like me just doing their jobs and raising a good family, the business owners and the WEALTHY (yes I said the wealthy) creating those jobs, our fine military which maintains our freedom at the cost of their own lives, and most importantly God. If those last three things I mentioned offend you, I'm not sorry. I'm sad. Because that means you have bought into the notion that the wealthy are evil, the military are only murderers, and that God does not exist. For that, I pity you.

I have nothing but love for my fellow man, and wish that everyone could live in a country as great as this one.