Happy 4th of July!
Posted by Carlea Bauman on July 3rd, 2008
There’s nothing like the 4th of July to remind us of how great our country is. For me, what I love most about being an American is my right to speak out in support or opposition of what my elected officials are doing up in Congress and in the White House.
When I turned 18, I was so excited that I finally had the right to vote (you can imagine how much fun I was in high school). As a bona fide history geek, every time I vote, or place a call to Congress or write a letter to my electeds, I think about the patriots who embarked on a Great Experiment and sought to create a government of the people, by the people, for the people. How unsure they must have been that it would work, that a country without a strong central government would be able to thrive, that its citizens wouldn’t naturally gravitate back into living under tyranny. Ultimately, their faith in humankind won out over the fear and doubt. Man, that gets me.
Now, some may not naturally make a connection between the brilliance that is Thomas Jefferson’s letter to King George and modern day citizens emailing their Members of Congress about colorectal cancer screening – but I do. Those guys got bent out of shape over a taxation on tea. We want to make sure everyone’s butts get covered. And so we get a bill introduced, it gets debated on by Members of Congress, eventually it will get a vote and all the while regular American citizens are weighing in on this issue and making sure their voices are heard. It’s beautiful! America at its best! I love it.
So this 4th of July, show your country how much you love it. DEMAND that your elected officials pass legislation that will help us win the fight against colorectal cancer. And while you’re at it, give a little thanks for the brave men and women throughout the centuries who have fought to help us attain and keep our freedom.
