Happy birthday, Miss America. Let the celebration begin!

[Terry]

Today, in this country, we have been celebrating what is one of my most favorite Holidays of them all.  With my being the youngest of eleven children whose parents emigrated from Ireland (Married, here in America in 1932) they made a new start and a new life, here in America?

I’ve not been feeling that well lately. But even ill health could not keep me away from this forum today to share the pride that my Father and Mother must have had in becoming American citizens.

{I truly believe that there is nowhere else on this gorgeous earth where the pride of citizenship is celebrated as openly as in the good old US of A}

I feel shamed and embarrassment for those citizens who belittle this/my/our country.

The likes of Cindy Sheehan, The Conservative Religious Right, the Radical Liberal Left and the babbling fools in the middle! But, then again, that is what America is all about anyway. FREEDOM.

I feel pride, as an American that I’m able to (Under our laws) challenge, criticize, and even enforce the removal from office the president of this country if so called for and needed. There’s no better place of this earth to live.

Both my parents stood proud as they swore their allegiance to this country. 

(This is what they said)

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

Terry (Who has never not voted.)

Wheres a Kate Smith song when you need one? 

[Val]

Oh, dear Terry!
It is indeed a lofty and self-rewarding kinda feeling that emanates from your unequivocal post about this haughty American Holiday.  And you're right, this should be a moment of celebration and revelry for all Americans! I've always thought the world of these Irish, Scots, English and the others who left everything behind them,  and went to America with the ambition and resolution of  bringing  into being a new country.
And however dogmatic and enthusiastically intense the  feeling of belonging may be embedded in the hearts of the American population, allow me to contest the assertion that ..."there's no better place of this earth to live...!"   I've travelled the world and can unswervingly affirm that there are such places!  In the end, I suppose it is just a question of... taste perhaps?  For example, I'd never be able to live anywhere else in the planet but in Northern Europe.  I love having Berlin, London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Luxemburg, Dublin, Vienna, Munich, Milan and innumerable other places right on my backyard!  I like diversity and different cultures, and this is what dear Europe is all about...


Val
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