Happy Independence Day

Just a quick additional note: Happy Independence Day to all. (I prefer that designation to "the Fourth of July." It sounds more Founding-Fathers-ish to me.)

My thoughts and prayers are with our troops around the world, for their safety and success. (And also prayers for families of those in the military - it is a sacrifice to have your loved one far away, and possibly in harm's way).

I am very thankful for all of the blessings of liberty that I enjoy, being a citizen of this nation. And I often think of Churchill's comment (which I may be misquoting) that democracy is the worst system of government, except for all the others.

It is true we may have problems in this country - but we also have tons of good things, things we all share in - freedom to choose whatever religion (or none) you consider is right, the freedom to complain about the government if you don't like what they're doing, the responsibility to vote (but also the freedom to slack and not-vote if you want to). And, as a woman, it's not lost on me that I am free in this country to not marry if I choose not to - even to have children "out of wedlock" if I so chose - and the government can't say boo about it. I'm also free to own my own house and hold down a career. And go shopping without an "escort" and read/watch/listen to whatever I choose.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Simple ideas - simple rights that Jefferson said we all had - but so powerful. May we always continue to have those rights, and may people in countries where those rights are not currently guaranteed come to know, have, and love those rights.