In honor of America's Independence Day

Despite the many wonderful adventures I'd like to recount on this, my last night in Israel, I feel it appropriate to share something I wrote privately prior to Israel's Independence Day:

At home the 4th of July takes on a pluralistic atmosphere, insomuch as it appeals to the patriotic, the capitalistic, and those who may only be celebrating a day off work.  On that day and the weeks preceeding it, a zealous patriotic pride grips the country, wraps it up in an American flag and instills in everyone a sudden, urgent desire to consume hot dogs and apple pie.  At night, fireworks light up the sky and sparklers illuminate children's smiling faces while their proud, patriotic parents crack open a beer.

Now, I love the 4th as much as anyone -- I love the fireworks, cotton candy, barbeques and flags.  I love the family, the community, the ease of it all.  But until now I've never stopped to think about what we're actually celebrating.  In the 250-plus years since Thomas Jefferson and his cohorts signed their names, we have forgotten that Great Britain had anything to do with it.  Certainly we hold no grudge against them, as well it should be.  So I doubt most of us have any real throughts of "independence" while we munch on Lay's Potato Chips, and when the word "freedom" indubitably flows through our consciousness, I don't think anyone is considering the question "Freedom from what?"

How lucky we are to live in a country where we need not fear another country's controlling use of force or power over us.  It is far more likely for another country to worry about their freedom from us than vice versa.  But with the privelage of long-held freedom comes the responsibility of not taking it for granted.  After all, what good is freedom if you cannot appreciate it?  What's more, what good is it if you don't even know what it means?

I think we have reached a point in our country's history where we have forgotten what freedom actually means, leading us to throw the word around with careless abandon.  I believe we need to re-examine our freedom and, perhaps, redefine it in this generation so that we might truly have something to celebrate not only for one day in July, but always.

With this in mind, I still hope everyone in the U.S. can celebrate a wonderful Independence Day complete with the three staples of any holiday: family, friends, and food.  Love your freedom, live it up, and enjoy the fireworks!