Independence Day

[ndrosen]

Happy birthday, dear country. We are now forty-six years past the Bicentennial celebration, which I remember, and in those years, there have been many times when I feared for the future of my country, as I still do. Such is the nature of life, that there always alarms, always clouds on the horizon, always fools and scoundrels posing threats to the well-being of the nation and its people. International developments are worrisome; there are prospects of conflict with a rising China, which seeks to export its authoritarian model of society, and to annex Taiwan. It is also possible that Putin, who may not have long to live in any event, will respond to the frustration of his attempt to conquer Ukraine by going nuclear. It is also a concern that the consequences of years of overspending by our own federal government will be brought home in the form of fiscal and economic crisis, and that the continued emission of greenhouse gases will result in drastic climatic problems.

Despite all this and more, I note with satisfaction that, whatever his shortcomings, our current President is not a Russian asset, and that our country is aiding Ukraine in resisting aggression. I am reminded of Abraham Lincoln’s words: “In granting freedom to the slave, we secure it for ourselves, honorable alike in what we give and what we gain.”

And so, despite all of our concerns, let us celebrate, let us watch fireworks, let us read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, let us eat some of the delicious cherries which are in season, and let us resolve to face the uncertain future with courage and with as much wisdom as lies within our capacity.

Comments

[dewline]

Let us dare to do better still for the generations we hope to see and to bring about.