Happy 4th of July!

I can't believe it's the 4th of July already! I remember my parents telling me that when you get older the time flies by! I really didn't buy it as I knew how long a school year seemed to last. Now my oldest son is telling me he can't believe he has been out of high school for 11 years and just turned 29 years old. Crazy!

When I think of the 4th of July and the memories this holiday conjures up, I mostly think of the American Flag, Fireworks, Family, Friends and of course our young men and women in harms way far away from their country. Their 4th of July is about staying alive and protecting their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles and friends back home. If it wasn't for our soldiers over the past 200 years or so, we wouldn't have the opportunity to enjoy this coming weekend like we do.

The 4th of July should be our most patriotic day of the year. Without getting totally political here, I think over the past few years, and especially this year, many Americans are losing their patriotism. I talk with so many people that seem to not like the country we live in right now. Let's keep something perfectly clear though, our country is made up of you and I. Our country does not belong to politicians, it belongs to us. If we are to preserve what our current and past soldiers have died for, we are going to have to become more involved in what the politicians are doing to our country. I just read an email that stated that Pepsi has a new can of soda with the flag and the Pledge of Allegience. In the Pledge they left out Under God. Is this really happening to us. Are we so afraid of hurting someones feelings that we are going against the fiber and blood that our country was built upon. If this doesn't scare you, it should. It should scare you that our world is changing quickly before our eyes and our country is being negatively affected because of our lack of unity as a nation.

Let's all remember that when push comes to shove, we are all neighbors and we all need to learn to compromise. If for a moment, we the people, can bring back our patriotism, then we will have the ability to work together to solve some of our pressing issues. However, if we choose to continue to fight each other verbally to the point of hatred amongst Liberals and Conservatives, we will soon lose our country. We will go the way of all the Empires prior to The United States of America. I don't want that for my grand children, do you.

Unfortunately, if you are my age (47) or so, it is left upon us to straighten out this mess. We do not have the luxury and we have the moral obligation, to make our country whole again. Let's face it, our parents generation did a heck of a bad job over the past 30 years. Most of todays problems could have been resolved years ago if they actually acted on the problems of the day. I think back to 1974 and pumping gas at my friends dads gas station with huge lines. I remember the talk of not being held hostage by the Middle East and the need for alternative energy. Unfortunately it was just talk and nobody did anything. After all, the future problems would be the future...it's so far away. Well here we are 30 years later and the future is now.

Ok, I'm done ranting. I love our country. I love the people. I even love New Yorkers which is tough for me being a Boston Red Sox fan! I love what we stand for. I love the fact that when anyone in our country or around the world is suffereing from devestation, that we are the first ones to give. Not just from the government, but from you and I. We are America. Please help us protect our country and get involved. Remember, all the politicians are our employees. It's time to fire our staff and get a new one! Unfortunately we don't have that option this election, but we have 4 more years to really make a difference in the next election in 2012. Let's not let our grand children down, they are depending on us.

With all that said, I hope that you all have a Happy 4th of July weekend. I hope you reflect on what I have said here and what you can do for your country. I think one of our Presidents said "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. It's time!

Happy 4th of July!