Happy Birthday, Betsy Ross and Uncle Sam

Here’s hoping that you will resonate with a few personal, patriotic musings coming from a backyard patio in a small corner of Bridgewater:

Tomorrow, we celebrate the founding of our nation, one of the most successful experiments in human governance – perhaps the finest in all of history. Yet, to listen to so many strident internal voices which have been railing and lashing out at America and at the caliber of its citizens, you could be excused if you did not comprehend the fullness of the achievements attained in this land in just a little over 200 years – a mere blip in time.

There has been so much recent stridency and self-interest; such a disproportionate degree of self-perpetuating victimhood – one accompanied by a sense of entitlement made obvious by too many at all the strata of our population, that it is sometimes difficult to put one’s hand on the real pulse and life-blood circulating across this nation, keeping it alive and vital. Despite all of its faults – and this country has many – it still burns with the brightest light.

Just look around: How many people are beating at the exit doors of our northern or southern borders – or at our sea ports on the east and west coasts – looking in droves for ways to escape to other nations for greener pastures?

Conversely, just observe the hundreds of thousands of people beating down the entrance doors on our southern border, as well as the uncounted others of foreign-born origin from all other points of the globe, struggling and hoping to obtain green cards and visas to get in.

I’m not a Pollyanna, but remember this: Always look at what people do – not what they say – and witness those who flock to this country. What they seek and hunger for is at the very core of what defines the essence of our values on this troubled Fourth of July.

Happy birthday, America.

NOTE: For an excellent editorial about this American holiday, see "America, still beautiful," at http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080704/OPINION03/80703071/1062