I’ve been on an interesting journey over the past few years. I’ve learned more about the history of the USA than I did in the previous 30 years of life, which included some really nice and expensive formal college education. While my pride of being an American citizen and fourth-generation Texan has strengthened, I’m saddened and discouraged by the people around me that are still in the same narrow-minded and restrictive reality that I was just a few years ago. All of the benefits we have enjoyed since casting off the oppressive rule of a monarchy are now once again at risk. Common sense says we can’t live our personal lives living paycheck to paycheck and relying on large credit card balances to get us through, but as a nation, that is exactly the path we’ve decided to take. The majority of the people recognize the problem, but each person is not willing to sever the unsustainable benefit they receive from the system. Everyone, seemingly wants something for nothing, and they are willing to keep voting for that. I now understand how fragile and rare liberty and freedom are. I’m embarrassed that I’ve gone on as long as I’ve have and not understood the importance of the life I am so privileged to live at this point in time.
Now I’m left wondering if celebrating our Independence is smart. We have changed course as a nation. I’m wondering if we are really about Independence, Liberty, and Freedom.
