You Don't look a day over 30

[David Octavius]

Happy Birthday America!
You Don't look a day over 30

It is without a doubt your birth has changed the world, Thomas Paine did not exaggerate when he said we had the opportunity to "begin the world over again". For it signaled the beginning of the end for the age of Kings and ushered in the baby steps of Republicanism and Democracy.

It hasn't always been easy - no relationship is - we almost split apart in the 1860s and it would take another hundred years after that for the words of the Declaration of Independence to ring true, "that all men (and women) are created equal". Though that part of our history is lamentable and tragic, we can take solace that these struggles for equality has only reinforced and ingrained in us the ideals of the founders, that it is the right of the PEOPLE to fight for our liberty, which no man can take away.

Now as you begin your 231st year of existence I sit with my friends, looking at the fireworks and chomping on a few burgers I can't help but think "where do we go from here?". Your not that skinny shy kid that didn't even have a serviceable army until after the war of 1812, you've become a world power and a leader. It certainly changes things, you are looked at to solve all the worlds problems but no one is perfect, mistakes will be made and you will become the easy scapegoat for all that is wrong - and though it is unfair, you will keep on going and keep on trying. Just don't forget where you came from, it is the ideals of liberty that made you great and its the ideals of accountability that made us free, and if you keep that within your heart then we will always win and you will always be strong - thank you America and God bless