I’m an American. And I’d like to talk about what that’s like.

I don’t wake up worried about war at my doorstep.

I don’t worry about drones.

I don’t worry about widespread famine, or deadly diseases claiming my home town.

Or being enslaved by my government, or being hunted by death squads.

I live in one of the most civilized countries in the world.

I have access to the most powerful technology in human history on a daily basis.

My problems, if they even really qualify as such, are taxes, and having enough money to afford internet.

I have the freedom to pursue the arts as a career, and to actually have a chance at it.

I am…immensely lucky.

I didn’t get any of these things because of something I did. It was random.

Being born, was the only requirement.

***

I am an American. And I’d like to tell you what the Fourth of July is like.

We set off miniaturized explosions off the sides of bridges, and over lakes, simply because we can.

We hold massive barbecues that could feed an entire town of starving people.

It’s become incredibly commercialized.

But, at the core of it we celebrate for a reason.

We celebrate it because we are lucky.

We celebrate it because a group of brave people died for our right to have this life.

We celebrate because people continue to fight and die to preserve it.

We celebrate because of how far we’ve come.

***

I am an American, and I’d like to tell you what that means to me.

It means that I need to strive towards great things.

It means that I must do everything I can to make the most of what I’ve been given.

It means I must never forget how many people were lost.

It means I must respect the heritages that came before me.

It means I must thank the soldiers that fight for me, and the police officers that protect me.

It means I must vote whenever I can.

It means I must attempt to protect the Constitution.

It means I need to stand up for those who are smaller than me.

***

I am an American, and I am proud to be one.

And my fellow Americans, I hope you are too.

Happy Fourth of July everyone.

 

—

Special thanks to: Collin Pearman, Dylan Alexander, Jerry Banfield, Michael The Comic Nerd, Pulsatilla Pratensis, and Zeony.

Did you like the article? Dislike? Tell me about it in the comments. I would love to hear your opinions! If interested in specific articles, or want to write as a guest, you can message me at scifibrandonscott@gmail.com. If you want to help keep this blog going, consider becoming my patron at https://www.patreon.com/coolerbs. Thanks for reading!