An open letter to my fellow freedom fighters around the world from America on our Fourth of July celebration.

Here in America, we are about to celebrate what we call our Independence Day. It is an ongoing recognition of what our forefathers have paid for this day. Basically, that means everyone, everywhere who enjoys or at least strives for what we call for and think about as democracy. The word democracy basically implies a right for unity and freedom under our definition and structure of government.

The 4th of?July is perhaps the most important holiday we have in America. It's each person's right to be left alone or to be included as he or she defines it. It is like a pomegranate - a number of individual pieces of living fruit clustered together and tightly wrapped around something we call freedom.

Freedom exists as a concept, a wish, a hope, and a desire. But when we think about it, it is an obsession that is to say something that is amorphic intangible heritage. It is a conceptual idea that millions have fought and died for throughout centuries. Certainly not just in America but around the world. America is the foundation that gives us the right to have our rights. It is something we have in common but much of the time don't give it a thought.

I have a beautiful umbrella in my closet. Living in Arizona it stays there most of the year. But there are those times that it rains and a trip to the closet or wherever you store your umbrella becomes a thought and a realization that we all need the tools stored for our survival when the time comes.

No one would think about buying a car if it does not have a spare tire. Why? Because we have an implicit investment in the notion that we may need it at some point. So it is in life when we are in need of some sort of special equipment to deal with those times when things go wrong. We need to find resources or tools, to help and assist us to get through those moments. What we want and need are those things which we have stored away for that moment–that rainy day when we need it.

Few people buy a car with the idea it is going to break down or need some special attention. Of course, we know it is important to be prepared in case of the inevitable. As the song goes, "Into each life some rain must fall.” It is for those moments that we look back and notice the preparations that we have made for those times.

Such is democracy. It is the umbrella in the closet although not on our daily consciousness but, it is there to protect and be prepared. Democracy is the deal our forefathers made for today, tomorrow, or whenever freedom is challenged. So for many of us here in America, we will bring out the flag if, we don't have it flying already. Many of us refer to it as "Old Glory" a term that implies a recognition of our history and what we as a people have done to ensure it for ourselves and the ensuing generations.

I regularly inspect how "Old Glory" looks when I'm going in and out of the house and what her condition is. It seems to me in that inspection that I can always think of something that might be a little bit better in her condition. Over the hundreds of years of our young country and of countries who also believe in, and strive for that special word," freedom” I feel a kinship with all those who have gone before me and recognize the importance of “Old Glory.”

Like many people in this land of liberty friends will gather, not dressed for a formal occasion but, often in cut-off Levi's and loosely flowing Hawaiian shirts or even apparel featuring the “red white and blue.” Today is a day for hotdogs and hamburgers and with the pals, we have to celebrate. But let us never forget that these times for folly and laughter have been paid for. Even today with the blood and sacrifice of people whose faces we will never know but, the brothers and sisters who have gone before us and believed in that special gift which we have. And that gift we call Independence Day, the 4th of July.?

I asked one thing, take a moment in that celebration to pause and reflect on the long line of people and patriots that made that gathering with friends and family eating hotdogs and hamburgers possible.

God bless you, and have a great Fourth of July - our Independence Day!