By Patricia Finn
Give me a 1-2-3-4! What are we cheering for? The Fourth. The Fourth. The Fourth. It’s July and nobody celebrates like Americans on the Fourth of July. The Fourth of July is our red, white and blue holiday so bring out the lawn chairs and start up the grill. We want hot dogs, hamburgers, sparklers and fireworks. This is more than summer fun, it’s a chance to remember that we are One Nation. We the People. Not the King. Not the political party. Not the military dictatorship. A democratic republic. A radical experiment in governing.
Let’s peek at some facts that add to our patriotic enthusiasm. There is nothing Americans enjoy more than a “we’re all in” celebration. There have been no shared holidays since Valentine’s Day. Although we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day, it lacks the magnitude that we give to “The Fourth.” It is summer. It is hot. By July we are ready to party and most Fourth of July parties are outside. Unlike Christmas and Valentine’s Day, the Fourth of July has the advantage of not needing to buy anyone gifts. This one is easy. You grill and everyone is happy. Add to that the excitement of being outside at night and top it off with free entertainment by the city.
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Now that we are happy, fed and entertained, let’s consider the important question: “Are we better off than if we had remained a British colony?” If the patriots hadn’t rebelled, we would be British, not American. I like tea – but Spam? Years ago, I was standing on a line in a retail shop and noticed that the woman next to me had a heavy British accent. I asked her if she was visiting because I noticed her accent. Her reply was “Aren’t you the ones with the accent? After all, it is English that we are speaking.”
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Celebrating the Fourth gives us a chance to reflect on our freedoms. In America for the most part, what we wear is a choice. America is “The Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.” We are free to brave short sleeves, sleeveless, and halter tops. We have the right to bare arms. You may be frowned at, but you will not be arrested. The basic rule is to wear something in the basic places most of the time.
In America, being female, I am free to go where I want, when I want, but this is not true globally. Just to get a glimpse of how twisted a reality that is, try to imagine the situation with gender reversal. Imagine a country where the men are not allowed to go outside alone, or drive a car, and they must walk around covered up except for their eyes. They are just too desirable and must be hidden or else who knows what might happen.
Worldwide, not everyone is free to marry the person of their choice. The global Westernization of the world is changing the tradition of arranged marriages, but I was surprised to learn that it is still a popular practice. Are you sitting down? More than half of the world’s marriages are prearranged. One statistic is 53%. Thinking back, who in your social arena would your parents have contracted for you to marry? (A scary thought?) It is my understanding that in arranged marriages men have the right of refusal. They are given choices to visit and then accept or reject, like purchasing real estate. Although non-arranged marriages have not been working out too well, it is a freedom.
Another choice we should not take for granted is the right to determine the number of children we will have. Recently, an Illinois couple celebrated the birth of their 100th grandchild. Leo & Ruth Zanger have 53 grandchildren, 46 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. “There is always room for one more,” Ruth happily quips. You can do that in America. It’s one freedom we don’t often talk about, but it is important.
Let me see, what other personal freedoms do we have? I can eat what I want, but that is pretty standard world-wide, except for the forbidden pig, or cow depending on how far east you travel. In countries that reject certain foods, I don’t think it is an issue that results in arrest, except for the consumption of alcohol. Remember prohibition? (I hope you can’t remember prohibition, no one that old should be alive and reading this.) My parents were part of the “speakeasy” generation.
Did my title make you think that this was going to be about gun control? It is my team that argues for the “right to bear arms” but I hesitate to go there. In America we are free to defend ourselves and own a gun. I thought that was what the police (and God) were for.
Now let me see, I have covered dress, food, marriage, childbirth, guns, religion – Oh! How could I forget? The freedom to print your opinion.
