I guess my fourth of July experience this year inspired me to write this Blog. Me and about 20 other friends went to watch the fireworks on North Shore. We gathered around the fire as the sun set behind us eating homemade snacks and lighting off small fire works.We were on a spot on the beach next to an old WWII bunker, a relic of some of the tougher times in America's past. Still, even now we all couldn't help but nervously joke about the modern threats from North Korea. The fireworks over the ocean were incredible, and it was a cool experience watching them from the window of a WWII bunker. Still, the best part of this all American night was not the guitar playing, not the watermelon, not the leis, not the Martinellis apple cider, it was something that happened after the fireworks.
We all gathered around the fire put our hands on our hearts and pledged our allegience to the United States. After this pledge we all sang together at the top of our lungs the National Anthem. The patriotism was palpable and real. Sometimes I get bugged by all the things that happen politically but it is moments like these that give me renewed hope in America and what she stands for.Now I am no world traveler but after living two years in Argentina, visiting Mexico, England, France, living in Hawaii (which I consider to be half American), and going to a school with people from over 60 different countries from every continent on earth I feel I have seen some of the world.
Still nothing can compare to the land that I call home. The other day a kid from Tonga said it well when he said "For Tongans going to the US is like going to Heaven". Often politics can sour us but from its beginning this country has been special. Its founders are totally unique when compared to similar characters in history. There they were, they had all the power, they could do whatever they wanted with it......and what did they do? They did what was right! They were the exception to the old saying "power corrupts." Instead of imposing what they thought defined a good society they gave the power to the people to decide for themselves what they wanted. They gave the people.....LIBERTY!
They created a society based on the idea that Government is not meant to make people good, but rather Government exists to make men free, a concept never before tried. The founders studied the great thinkers of the enlightenment, like John Locke and Montesquieu and realized the importance of a free society tempered by the private force of religion to keep men civil and moral.
John Adams Said
"Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand."
These founding principles of liberty, virtue, a creator, natural rights, and the notion that all men are created equal and that no man has authority over another man by his birth alone have been tested throughout our great history.
In many great wars the US has stood up for Liberty, and Peace to the demise to some of the greatest Tyrannies the world has ever known.
In short I may not have seen the whole world but I have seen enough to know for myself that I will pledge my allegiance and loyalty to the America I love, the America I would die for, the America I will live for, an America of liberty, an America of virtue, an America of peace and prosperity. I don't care what anyone says America is the light in the world, the greatest nation on earth, and it will continue to be as long as the principles that made it great in the first place are lived by.
So we recently had a family Disneyland trip. It was an absolute blast in the happiest place on earth. Its a place where even sixty year old men can be taken back to Tom Sawyer boyhood adventures through classic rides like Pirates of the Caribbean. Still, I think the best part was not what I got to do but getting to watch the younger ones in our group soak up the magic of Disneyland for the first time! It took me back to the carefree days of boyhood adventures. After my trip some asked me who the prettiest princess was......well just look below. It was obviously Belle!
Lily and London....Cutiest Nieces ever......
FINN= CUTEST NEPHEW IN THE WORLD!
FINN= CUTEST NEPHEW IN THE WORLD!
Although sometimes he thinks I can be pretty lame!
