To My Country on This, Your 228th Birthday,

This past year you disappointed me, let me down, made me feel ashamed. You have gone astray. Forsaken your values and lost your way. Yet, I still love you, have hope for you, celebrate you and know the goodness and greatness you still have within you. So this year I pray you will come to your senses, cast out the extremists and the scoundrels who hold the levers of power and once again strive to be a beacon for tolerance, charity, knowledge, freedom and compassion. Idealistic? Yes. And you have rarely lived up to those ideals. But for a nation to be great it must strive for great ideals no matter how distant or unobtainable they may appear to be. No matter how many times you fail.

This year I wish you safety from those who would do you harm; wisdom to know that power must be exercised with the utmost care and caution; and that before long you will be graced with a leader who has the qualities of Teddy Roosevelt, who fought for the little guy and against the greedy and corrupt robber barons, Robert Kennedy, who reached out to the poor and oppressed and John Kennedy, who, after some difficult and painful lessons amd mistakes, combined toughness against enemies with a clear understanding that war is madness and a horrible waste.

Happy Birthday America.

Happy Birthday

Hey loburt, great writing. It is good that you remember your root. It was also great getting together with you yesterday. I think you have a great insight on a lot of topics.

I really miss those fourth of july B.B.Q back home.

Very nice post!! Happy birthday.