July 3 -- An important day to ponder patriotism, freedom, responsibility and #beinganAmerican

Hard to believe that something happening 44 years ago would still have so much resonance today. Semper Fi - Marines

Which makes me think, to whom do we owe our freedom? Who are the patriots?

Patriots are not just the warriors.... 

We do not only owe the freedom we celebrate tomorrow to warriors past and present. We owe OUR freedom to patriots who had the courage to stand for elections and engage in the daily battles for the policies that have shaped and reshaped our lives; we owe our freedom to women who braved ridicule to demand the vote -- for decades before they got it; we owe our freedom to those who act to show what it means that "all men are created equally."

Patriots exercise their freedoms...

We owe our freedom to those who exercise their freedom by being in church on Sunday or Wednesday or any day they feel like it (and to those who do not attend a church -- that is their right); we owe our freedom to those who understand that building a country and keeping it Great requires sometimes not getting only what you think you want but also helping others get what they think they need.

Patriots balance rights and responsibilities...

Our freedom is not free -- it comes with responsibility -- and let's be thankful for those who throughout our history have understood the balance of rights and responsibility. That is the only thing that makes the lives lost in all those battles have any meaning.

It is FOURTH OF JULY week -- celebrate/remember/recommit