happy 233rd.

Ahhhh, smells like democracy.

I mean, is there a greater a country in the world? Aside from our outlandish deficit, poor health care system, reliance on the internets and immediate gratification, and our pompous celebration of celebrities and criminals over actual people doing good things, I can't imagine a better place to spend life on Earth. Unless you enjoy naps and lots of vacation time, then maybe you should head to Europe, otherwise, seriously, America is where it's at.

Sometimes I wonder if Teej and the boyz really knew what they were creating when they got together and started talking about starting a revolution. I mean, I doubt that they loved tea that much (I am of course, speaking of the Boston Tea Party). I really wonder if Teej, Benji and the Adams fellas really sat around talking about starting a country and daydreamed that someday it'd be a world superpower with an army going around the globe freeing others from tyranny. Like, do you think Sam Adams looked at John and said, "Yeah, this Revolution is a good idea...but, let's think long-term...what do we want this place to look like 233 years from now?I really hope that this nation turns into a place where athletes are paid millions and millions of dollars, where everyone is up in arms over boys marrying boys, where musical artists get more coverage upon their deaths than foreign countries trying to vote freely without millions dying and where elected officials disappear for days at a time only to come home and say they've been doing the dirty with someone other than their wifey. Yeah, that sounds like a place I want to live...OH...and I really hope we can somehow figure out transportation from one place to another other than a horse and maybe the government can own two-thirds of whatever companies figure that out. Now, that would be cool!"

For some reason, call it a gut-feeling, I just don't think that that conversation happened. I can't imagine that this, America version 233, is at all what our founders had in mind. I mean, Teej would definitely not be a fan of the government today. He was more into small government.

Nonetheless, no matter the vision Teej and the boyz had, this is a great place to live and be free. A great place to speak openly about government, to worship my God without fear, to pick out my own toilet paper (and doctor, for now) and to enjoy a cold beverage on a hot day. This is America and despite it's flaws and countless inconsistencies it is, without hesitation, the greatest country on Earth.

"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not." --John Adams, in a letter to his wifey, Abigail (he was off by two days, but seriously-- he predicted fireworks?! come on!)