Patriots and Parades: Happy Birthday America!

I was born a realist in every sense of the word. I often pretend to subscribe to the notion of idealism, but at my core, realism abounds like a rain-swelled river overflowing its banks. Dressing in idealistic attire requires whimsicalness that I just don’t possess and most often comes across like a politician feigning the truth when answering a simple question he/she must avoid. I can don the coat, sure, and exude idealistic concepts left and right, but when the winter wind blows, the chill of realism is overwhelming, coat or not.

That being said, my impracticality always spikes this time of year. The holidays have a way of exerting a certain romanticism that I just can’t avoid. From News Years Day to Christmas Eve, each planned celebratory event brings feelings of closeness and good will that are vacated during most other times of the year. I tend to indulge myself by extending benefits of doubt, assuming best intentions, and engaging in broad sweeping generalizations; my idealism coming through like the thunderous boom of a well timed firework.
Unfortunately, I may be the only one.

For instance, I hold the Fourth of July holiday in such regard, that I believe everyone gets a chill up their spine when certain songs are trumpeted over explosions of fireworks; songs like The Battle Hymn of the Republic, Proud to be an American, and my personal favorite, Ray Charles’s rendition of America the Beautiful. In that moment, reflection is nothing short of awe inspiring as raining sparks and ashes allude to the intolerable suffering by our fore fathers for the sweet taste of freedom. I like to think that every American appreciates the fact that the freedom we enjoy was bought with the blood of patriots so that future generations would thrive in freedom; if at least for a mid summer’s weekend.

We band together, as a people, for picnics, parades, and pyrotechnics enjoying the triumphant aspect of America’s independence. We bask in the smiles of children, the smells of summer, the warmth of the season, and the twinkling of fireflies. Neighbors bake pies, shut down thoroughfares, swim in local watering holes, and basically throw open the town to the people, city by city, state by state, from coast to coast, all across this great land for a once a year celebration. I couldn’t fathom an individual with any disdain for the Fourth of July.Not on this day. Not one.

Idealism aside, the Fourth of July to me is a warrior’s holiday and it’s evident throughout all symbolism, verbiage, and historical account. It is a strong and resolute day of reckoning in which to observe and celebrate, as much for its pomp as for its circumstance. The warriors, past and present, are honorable, fearless, and proud, and with good measure. They are the freedom fighters who march under the sovereign flag of the United States of America; the greatest country ever to fly a flag. To deny the credit due would be to spite the very hand of God who has blessed this country exponentially.

So thank you America. Thank you for staying true to your promise of freedom and opportunity for all Americans. Thank you for your steadfast obedience to the Almighty God and His word. Thank you for providing hope, direction, and stability to all comers, from all nations, and for all people. The land of the free as secured by the brave will forever stand as the greatest, freest, and unwavering nation in the history of the world. Disagree…well there’s always tomorrow…Happy birthday America! Just a thought!