Fourth of July

When I was a kid we used to tell the following joke:
Q: Do they have Fourth of July in England?
A: Yeah, they just don't celebrate it.
I seems that this is a good time to take stock in all of the things that we take for granted. Free elections where anyone, and I do mean anyone, can run for public office. The right to place signs, wear t-shirts or otherwise express our support for our various candidates is something we do without questioning it. In many countries today supporting the wrong (losing)candidate or party can have dire consequences. At this time we still have thousands of our troops in countries trying to achieve these things that we take for granted. maybe we have more to reflect upon this weekend than picnics and fireworks.