The labor

was intensive;

the birth,

expensive,

and everyone

celebrated

what the fathers

created.

(But actually,

necessity

is the mother

of invention!)

A declaration

of independence

from the king

would bring

forth

on the fourth

of July, 1776

an evolution

of politics

from the critics

of monarchy,

with a vision

of democracy

that somehow

included

people

as property

for almost

another

century.

But the muscle

memory

of and for

opportunity

has guided

the trajectory

of this 

then new

country,

founded,

and now

hounded,

by old men.

When was 

America

just a 

replica

of her

ideal?

Electing a

president

set a precedent

for self government,

but how 

to effectuate

is still 

a debate.

What makes

America great

isn’t innate

or fate.

It’s the pursuit

not just

of happiness

but of 

the less

obvious

equality

of every

body;

even the ones

who look different 

from you

and

with whom

you disagree

(or worse).

The curse

of freedom

is over

abundance;

tolerance

of bigotry,

and over

reliance

on individuality.

The miracle

of the American

ideal

is made real

every day

while

also being

contradicted.

We may be

conflicted

over 

what seems

inflicted,

depicted

incessantly

on our screens.

But tomorrow

we’ll all

face 

the sky

as fireworks

fly,

like celestial

candles

on our

birthday 

cake.

What gifts

will you 

give?

Or will

you just

take?

Do you

expect

party

favors?

On our

best

behaviors,

we’ll

make sure

we’ll

endure

for

another 250

and more.

Happy Birthday

to US.