Fourth of July Wish--Lessons We Must Always Remember As Americans

Happy and Safe Fourth of July Wishes to All Americans and Infinite Gratitude to Our Courageous Soldiers and Veterans!

And, Happy Birthday to our nation's first daughter Malia Obama!

May this day be a reminder of the enormous debt that was paid so that we all might live together in brotherhood. May we forever be reminded that the true strength of our nation lies not in the power or size of our military but in the power and size of our compassion and commitment to justice, peace and liberty within our borders and throughout the world. May we always understand that only love can overpower hate. May we never take our liberties and freedom for granted or as guarantees. May we always remember that God has truly blessed America and it is in our service to others that we bless God; to whom much is given much is required. May we be enlightened to the fact that we are all God's creation and He has no respect of persons, race or ethnicity, political party, or economic status. May we always strive for social harmony, civil discourse and collective responsibility; these are the tools necessary to erase partisan divides and economic inequalities. May we never take more than we give, use more than we need;, and accept the fact that global warming is real whether we believe it our not; we must do our part to preserve a clean, healthy and livable space on earth for our children and future generations. May our hands and hearts always be open to give to the poor and help those who are counted among the least of us; eradicating poverty must become our next shared world vision and mission. And may peace never be seen as a simple moral conviction that has little merit but the very guiding principle deeply rooted in our democracy.

Remember to thank and pray for a soldier or veteran. And finally, I leave you with the words of Emma Lazarus' The Colossus--part of which as you know are engraved at the base of the Statue of Liberty:

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"




The one and only Ray Charles singing America The Beautiful