June is coming to a close and it is almost time to break out the fireworks for the 4th of July, Independence Day.
This holiday is not just another excuse to sleep in, but rather a time when all Americans can unite behind some of the few ideals which we all have in common -- i.e. independence and freedom. One would think that with the world in the state that it is in, people in this country would make it a point to appreciate their freedoms and use this holiday not just as a vacation but as a time to realize how lucky we really are.
Unfortunately, however, I have seen a huge lack of consciousness on this campus regarding this and any other holiday which involves a bit of patriotism or appreciation of our past.
What is patriotism? Today, it is almost a dirty word. I have seen many people who have been ridiculed and chided simply because they are proud to be American and appreciative of what we have as Americans.
So many of our "special interests" groups try to spread the propaganda that America, in itself, is inherently bad, evil, racist or whatever. It is now standard practice of many groups to rip apart any bit of patriotism people have by denouncing the core values of America.
But while these self-absorbed few are stepping on their rights, countless others around the world are dying in an attempt to have those rights. Not to mention many millions of Americans have already died protecting the rights we do have. Yet these "concerned" people scoff at the military and the ideal of freedom.
But perhaps the most crucial point of all of this is that no matter what happens in this country, one of the most vital things that must be preserved is the unity of its people. Independence Day is one manifestation of that unity. When someone disavows such a holiday, he or she is making a gash in the unity of all Americans.
Certainly there are problems here in America that must be addressed and solved. I am not, in any way, accusing all "special interests" of being selfish and petty. But the answer to the country's ills is not to write off the American ideal. The answer is to use the rights we all have (speech, assembly, etc.) to bring about change. And if anything, the unity of the people of America is necessary for any kind of change!
Here on campus, I see many people who are very conscious of their ethnicity but don't seem to care about the fact that they are Americans. It is important to maintain one's roots but must that mean that one should shun one's country in the process? If people would ban together behind a commonality instead of always talking about our differences, there would probably be much less social turmoil.
To all of those who would disagree with what I'm saying -- remember that it is because of the American ideal that you have the opportunity and the permission to express dissent with your country.
And while you undermine the values of this country, people in other countries (i.e. Russia) are going through great tribulations just to establish the freedoms which you already have simply because of your nationality.
So, rest and enjoy yourself this weekend. But also stop and think about what you have simply by being an American.
