Monday July 4th marks the birthday of our great and proud country. It is a weekend of bbq’s, fireworks displays, beach going, retail store sales, and last but not least time with our families. Our country was founded on the principle of freedom. Our freedom from those who tried to prevent this nation from becoming one whole entity is not something we should ever let slip out of our minds.
The flag with its signature stars and stripes basking in a sea of red, white and blue should be on prominent display throughout the country. The more patriotic fireworks displays will undoubtedly splash our colors across the nighttime sky. Upon witnessing these awe inspiring displays we should all recite the Pledge Of Allegiance followed by the singing of our national anthem.
Our children must be taught what our flag should mean to them along with the values that come with it just as our parents passed onto us as their parents passed onto them. Now more than ever our children must be educated by their parents in addition to making this a mandatory part of the Public School curriculum.
While this 4th of July we celebrate the birth of America all through this weekend and all through the days of every year birthdays of our children, parents, and grandparents are celebrated as well. Our children are the hope for the future of our country. They are the byproduct of the love two people shared for each other that withstood the test of time.
Yes, we have all heard the horror stories of the long hours not to mention the roller-coaster you ride as you take them from newborn to toddler to young children, to teenager, to young adult, to parents of their own children. You are a parent until the day you die but the values (American values) you instilled in them are ones they honor your memory by keeping to those values.
To better illustrate my statements above I am going to quote the lyrics to Joni Mitchell’s timeless classic which she appropriately entitled “The Circle Game.”
Here are the lyrics that I hope you will read carefully and if so inclined play the song with its beautiful melody. Here are the lyrics that are so important for you to read, hear, understand, and remember:
Yesterday a child came out to wonder
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We’re captive on the carousel of time
We can’t return we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
Then the child moved ten times round the seasons
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
Words like when you’re older must appease him
And promises of someday make his dreams
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We’re captive on the carousel of time
We can’t return we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
Cartwheels turn to car wheels thru the town
And they tell him take your time it won’t be long now
Till you drag your feet to slow the circles down
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We’re captive on the carousel of time
We can’t return we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
So the years spin by and now the boy is twenty
Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true
There’ll be new dreams maybe better dreams and plenty
Before the last revolving year is through
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We’re captive on the carousel of time
We can’t return we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
Raising a child here in America is to have lived in an America that is free-form wannabe dictators, terrorists, self-serving politicians, and sexual predators; those that would abuse a child amongst others our children can live without. American children that are educated by some of the finest teachers whose craft is education backed up by a curriculum that prepares them to become responsible productive members of society in addition to becoming contributors to the continuing success of our economy.
Celebrate this momentous occasion with all the joy and revelry it deserves but don’t lose sight of how expensive and precious our freedom is. If your child has his or her birthday on the 4th of July consider it a double blessing that calls for a double celebration. The birthday of America that is celebrated on the same day as the birthday of your child is truly a magical experience.
Let me give special thanks to my dear friend Running Wolf who is somebody I consider to be my brother who so brilliantly suggested I write an article that dealt with the 4th of July. My friendship with Running Wolf who is of multi nationalities and I being an American Jew is a classic American story of two people bonding together despite their cultural (not to mention musical) differences who refuse to hate and thusly forged a friend ship that will endure just as America will endure as long as we teach our children how to preserve what we have. Thank you my brother for your friendship that I could not nor would want to do without.
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
This pledge should be prominently displayed in your home where your child can see it.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all children big and small who are marking this occasion of their birthday on this special weekend.
