Patriotic reflections

As we all are tend to do at the beginning of July, I'd like to wax patriotic and to express my gratitude to live in the great United States of America. While I may be prone to express distaste of the partisan politics of the government, the core beliefs on which this country was founded are inspired. I love the sublime truths enumerated in the Declaration of Independence which I quote in part:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

I am grateful that we as yet hold fast to those values and that I can pursue happiness in an environment of liberty with no threat to my life. I recognize the efforts of our military the world over to protect our freedoms. May we take advantage of every opportunity that we have to express our thanks and gratitude to them.

I am also grateful for the local men and women working to secure these freedoms on a local level. Just two nights ago, I was awaken at 3 AM to the sound of an argument outside my bedroom window. The argument escalated to such a degree that I was sure that someone would get hurt if it continued. I picked up the phone and called 911 to summon the police. They came promptly, the conflict was resolved, and I was able to fall asleep without the expletives and threats of drunk men ringing in my ears. This relatively minor event reminded me how fortunate I am to live in country where the police are trustworthy and committed to serve and protect.