Independence means different things to different people.
For a senior citizen, it might mean living independently with a little assistance.
For a graduate, it might mean living without parental rules.
And with the Fourth of July just ahead of us, it might be the words of trying to build a more perfect union, while embracing the pursuit of happiness.
I believe these two phrases are key this year as we celebrate the Fourth, as a time when not much seems to be going right for many of us, if not any of us.
A more perfect union – who ever said America was perfect? No one I can think of. Instead, the founders knew that we were an experiment as a new representative republic. It was stated from the very beginning that the goal was to be a more perfect union; not to be perfect. It’s the journey; and we’re still journeying to that goal on the horizon of a more perfect union.
Pursuit of happiness – Who ever said that we were guaranteed happiness? No one I can think of. Happiness doesn’t come from what we have, but who we are. Just look at any youngster getting a large wrapped Christmas gift. A year later, do they ever remember what was even under the tree the year before? Probably not; but do they remember the caring, the love and the affection shared by their parents and grandparents? Yes, often for the rest of their lives.
This has been a difficult year so far and it will probably remain so, for the rest of the year.
Let us focus on what we remember from our school history classes: Let’s journey toward a more perfect union and let’s pursue happiness. These are two things that always seem just a little out of our reach and isn’t that what helps us all to try a little harder each day to achieve each.
Happy Fourth of July, where we all claimed our independence as a nation, by claiming the importance of depending on one another.
