Happy Independence Day!

From the Kettering-Oakwood Times and other Times Community Newspapers

There’s been, and will continue to be, much chatter about the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare. We’re in the middle of one of the most contentious Presidential campaigns I can remember. Record numbers of Americans are still without gainful employment. Gas prices are still on their roller coaster ride. Your home may not be worth anywhere near what you hoped it would be at this stage in your life. And the new reality is most of us will be working into our 70s. Those issues can really get us down thinking about them. While they are critical, one fact remains indisputable in my eyes; this is still the greatest nation on this planet!

We just celebrated our freedom, our pride and our unwavering love for this great republic. Independence Day is the one day each year we need to put all our complaints, dislikes and disagreements about “the system” on hold and just focus on this; the very fact that we can express our differences sets us apart from most of the billions who share this planet with us.

No matter the challenges we face, we will survive them. No matter how gloomy a new law or ruling seems, our lives are still amazingly better than others around the world.

So as you took in the fireworks displays, grilled out in the back yard or went for a cooling dip in the pool I hope you took a moment to thank God that you were fortunate enough to be born in a nation (or have adopted this nation) where freedom is the cornerstone on which all else that makes us great is built and sustained.

This is our Independence Day, and my prayer is that the generations that follow will appreciate, and fully comprehend, the sacrifice and love poured out by so many who came before them. Those are the sacrifices that allow those very freedoms, which so many from other nations can only find in their dreams. The hope is they will also realize July 4^th is more than a day to check out a 4^th of July furniture sale. God Bless this great United States of America!