…Oh! It’s the Fourth of July. Let us know and share with our children, and those new to this land, the truth and the history of this day and how it started and why it stands. (I’ve included some interesting links at the end of this blog post.)

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, MY U.S.A BROTHERS AND SISTERS UNDER THE FLAG!

Another 4th of July celebration is upon us. Just remember, this is Independence Day…not just July 4th or 4th of July, or Fourth of July, etc. Remember in your hearts and prayers the men and women who gave their lives or livelihoods for us…and most importantly remember their families on this day.

Only after honoring them should we then celebrate our freedom. Not just over the years, but freedom from the initial hand that held us tightly… The caption under the below photo read something like: Shot in the head. Died on a lonely plain. I wonder what became of his family and if they ever got his body home.

And we should bow our heads to, and thank them all so that we are free to display our pride. May the Eagle soar, and the most beautiful flag of any country on this Earth continue to fly, waving to all those that have given a life-gone-by.

I am grateful that my country, at this time, gives me the freedoms to do and say the things I want to, and often the things I should not. Despite the sometimes bigotry of my fellow Americans, I am free to practice my spiritual practices and the religion of my choosing. I can write books and stories about ghosts, tyrants, heroes, and even bash the government if it has done something I don’t like. I can work any job of my choosing that will hire me. I know I’ve said these things before. But I know or have encountered people who live(d) in other countries and I know what I have here. I am a proud and grateful U.S citizen. I am getting old and fat, but I would take up arms to defend this country today, just as I would have 20 years ago. I am not afraid to die for what I believe in. Whether that be my country or my religion, or my family.

My father, Walter, came here from Poland after WWII. The atrocities he saw at 16 as a soldier are something I can’t even imagine. Thanks to him, I am a first-generation Polish-American…a title I carry with pride. He taught me to appreciate simpler things like the fact that I can read, and the quiet and plenty in my life. He stoned me with his belief that one should only claim rewards and accolades if they worked for them. My mother, Edna, is from West Virginia. She grew up high in the mountains, poor and with nothing. During WWII, her mother fed them on “ration stamps”. She has given me the appreciation of saving money…and to be thankful for where that money comes from. My step-father, Louis, was a good man. He, like my father, was a WWII vet. He grew up in rural Texas and went into the military just in time. He taught me appreciation for the land and the animals from where our food comes. Thanks to him, I came to understand that there is something to love about where you are whether you like that place or not.

When I was in my early 20s, I met a Korean War veteran. He told me about some of the things that happened to him there as a POW. Really, I never thought another human being would stick bamboo shoots under the fingernails of another human just for fun. That alone is enough to make me want to punch walls…or vomit.

I respect a government that respects the human rights of non-Christians, non-heterosexuals, and non-Caucasians. Despite what our individual opinions are, our federal government says we all have rights. Now, if we all as individuals would respect that…we’d be better off. Here’s to freedom of speech, right to bear arms, the right to a religion of our choosing, the right to be homosexual…gay, lesbian, and any other title under the rainbow. I believe in the right of marriage equality and I am grateful to see state after state becoming tolerant of that, if not outright accepting. Here’s to the right to read a book, here’s to the right to drink beer, and the right to laugh out loud or talk to ourselves in public. Here’s to the rights of those who join employment unions and to those who hate unions…it’s our choice. And here’s to my right to express how much I do not like that Communist dick-tator,Vladimir Putin, and how badly I want his tyrant ass to leave Ukraine be. And, as U.S.-born citizen, I have the right to type here that I wish that if President Obama must be militarily involved any further world affairs, whether that be in an advisory or a military operational capacity, I wish he would stay out of Iraq…and go to Ukraine instead. *I pray for them.*

Now, for one day, let us quiet our dogmas and ring that damned Liberty Bell!

I will be forever sad for those who must go on without their loved ones who lost lives supporting the American way. And I thank them…I thank you. Whether those people fought in the American Revolution, or if they just came home, silent, from Iraq or Afghanistan. All these people, over several generations, have earned and maintained for me the resources to be happy. And on any given day, if I’ve had a bad day, or am having several bad years in a row; if I am ecstatic over a new job or if I’ve just bought a new pair of shoes…I am experiencing all of this because I worked for it with the help of those who bought American resources for me with their lives or health. Now, I long to see one more freedom…the rights of our military personnel and their families to be paid a wage becoming of what they do and what they give. For the health care of our military personnel to be above that of everyone else…excepting children…even before that of the any American president or congressperson. I want them to have adequate living quarters when they leave the military; they should have good pensions and not have to work at minimum wage jobs after fighting in a desert full of people who hate them and only looked to them as target practice. Really? These simple, simple things are a human right of any person that serves in a war for their country.

I have never been to any war. Yet, I cannot say that I will never see a war on my American soil. But I have trust in those who serve and protect and not just our military, but to police officers and firefighters and anyone else whose life at stake due to a job they do. It saddens me every day when I hear of a fire fighter losing his life trying to save someone who would not throw a penny at him for the job. I am heartbroken at the news of another police officer losing life to a thug who thought it was his right to rob, steal, batter or kill another because he felt like it or wanted the person’s cell phone. No, murder is one right we do not have, lest it is…in my opinion, to defend our own. We have no rights to murder another for the hell of it and to attempt to take what he worked for. This is not our right. This is no one’s right. And I appreciate the fact that there are people out there who are willing to defend my rights against that of some low-life thug who wants to poison our children with dope, or steal my car, or force women and children…even animals…to do things against their wills. Yes, they all get paid. Our taxes pay their salaries, but their taxes also pay their salaries. We do not own the police force, so shut your traps. So for those who believe we solely pay them to do a job: We do not pay them to die. Unfortunately, that is a misunderstanding regarding police officers, fire fighters, and military personnel world wide. So no matter where you live, respect these men and women, or never dare to call their name the day you need them. That would be a cowardly thing. If we are so brave…then let us shut our mealy mouths and go do their jobs. What?

Below photos regarding slain Chicago police officer, Clifton Lewis who was killed by a sorry human being.

This year, I have much to be grateful for on Independence Day. I have a new job. A job that I feel too inferior to have. But thanks to some military person in history, Illinois exists today, and I work for it and it’s citizens. Despite I have huge bills to pay, I am blessed. I am glad to be alive to have bills.

Also, go shake the hand of your American brothers and sisters in brotherhood. Welcome those legally new this land who work hard and pay taxes and wave our flag in front of their homes. If they worked for it, they own it.

If you see a member of our military today, shake their hand. Bring an apple pie over to the children of a military person who is far away. Say a friendly hello to a police officer instead of treating them with disrespect. And mostly, remember to say a prayer for our government tonight before you close your eyes to sleep.

Some people in other countries may think that U.S. Americans are the craziest asshats on the planet. But who cares? (Actually, they need to stop watching Girls Gone Wild in their spare time!) I mean, really, after all, the British are the ones who sent all the lunatics and criminals here early on. What did they expect?… Anyway… *cough* They’re just jealous that we have national parks, the state of Texas, a large Amish population, Jesse Jackson, Toby Keith, Harley Davidson, and the secret recipe to the Tootsie Roll. And guess what, World!, we’re keeping ALL that stuff. Yes, even Jesse.

Now that the serious reflection is over…let us go eat cakes decorated like the U.S. flag (as that’s the only proper way to eat a U.S. flag…otherwise one should not eat the flag.); let’s eat our American fare: cheeseburgers off the grill, barbecue ribs, macaroni and cheese, and of course, S’mores which are made using the “great American Chocolate bar” by Hershey. Let us chug down Cokes or Pepsis, lemonade and beer, and plenty of water – it’s only Lake Michigan for me.

Happy 4th of July, you fun-loving, Harley riding, flag waving…happy-just-for-the-day, mean-ass Americans (and all of you in-the-process-of-becoming-an-American mean-ass Americans)!… 😉 I salute you, you gluttonous, littering, foul-mouth hooligan feigning-no-respect peoples of the USA.

May your God bless your hard-candied, soft-at-the-center hearts. I know you’re soft…I know you like to stick together in reality. I saw it happen when the Twin Towers fell, when New Orleans and later the East Coast were destroyed by water and wind; when the Boston Marathon was hijacked by two bags full of trash, and 20+ five-year-old children were gunned down by a coward. We do like each other. At least a little bit. And if we don’t, there’s always several versions of an old adage similar to: Fuck with mine and I’ll fuck with you. We might burn each others houses downs, but let some ass wipe try to come to our land and burn us down… Do not get us started, right America? We don’t want to have to put a “boot in your ass; it’s the American way.”

Happy birthday, U.S.A! You bunch of lazy asshats! 😉 *hugs*

Here are some links:

The American Revolution (The History Place) http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/

The American Revolution – Lighting Freedom’s Flame (National Park Service) http://www.nps.gov/revwar/about_the_revolution/capsule_history.html