America is 247 years old today. That is a long time for this “experiment” to have continued and also a very short time in terms of history – two things can be true. And that is what I’m thinking about today: How we can all be patriots who love our country AND have differing ideas and ideals.

Isn’t that the whole point of America? A land of freedom. Freedom to have different beliefs; political, religious or other. Freedom from fear of persecution because of those beliefs. Freedom to earn an honest living through honest work. Freedom to not have all the answers but try anyway.

A land of dreams. Dreams to make your soul sing with love. This beautiful, blessed land of ours with majestic mountains, peaceful lakes, and glorious woods and plains. A land filled with bounty. Dreams of growth and change, of neighbors helping neighbors, of community.

A land of patriots –  Our soldiers: brave men and women who willingly put their lives on the line to defend our country and its freedoms. First responders – they don’t ask what party people belong to before they do everything they can to save their lives. The person on the street who has a kind word or a smile for those they meet. These are the people who truly understand the beauty of our country and its people. 

Politicians and lobbyists who want to keep us divided so that their agendas are easier to push through do not understand or have forgotten what our forefathers fought and died for. May they learn that America’s citizens have not forgotten and will not let them tear us apart. We may not agree with everything our neighbors think or believe but we will always work together for the highest good of all. 

My dream is that we, the people, decide that our country, with all of its flaws and all of its glory will continue this experiment; learning from our missteps, celebrating our victories and all the time remembering that our differences as well as our similarities are part of Old Glory’s fabric.