On Independence Day

Not to post yet another "we're thankful to be free even if our country sucks sometimes" post, but this specific Independence Day hit me a bit harder than usual - not only because our country is in greater disrepair, but also because I recently finished George Orwell's 1984. For those of you who don't know, 1984 is a futuristic novel written in 1949 about what our world was coming to. From the first sentence "It was a bright, cold April Day, and the clocks were striking thirteen" to the last sentence, which I won't give away, it painted a picture in my mind that was frighteningly accurate about what America might possibly be heading towards. The fact that it was written so long ago makes it even worse. The novel made me think far more than I felt like thinking on a summer day, and the complete dictatorships that rules the world made me want to grasp at the freedoms we seem to be slowly losing even more. I'm not sure if I can recommend the book, but certainly don't read it unless you're about twelve at least, probably thirteen, as there are mature elements. 

While reading, a speech from the movie Independence Day came to mind. I know everyone's probably heard it, but it doesn't hurt to hear it again, and even though in all technicality it is applied to aliens, if you use your imagination it could be us. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gFN1t7Goyk Freedom is a gift far more than we realize in day to day life, as 1984 taught me, and I hope that we can always remember that it was God who gave us that freedom and every other blessing we enjoy in this country, while it is man that's starting to take it away. But there's always something to be thankful for, and as the above speech states, "We will not go quietly into the night!" Pray for mercy for our country that has so much and gives nothing back. But that's not to say don't celebrate! DO celebrate - we're Americans, we're free, we're Catholic. Be thankful for our military, who, as the highly recommended movie "A Few Good Men" states: "They stand on a wall, and they say 'nothing's going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch.'" And of course, remember the Revolution, which fought for our freedom, and as my favorite line in the Declaration of Independence says: (National Treasure taught me this) "When a long train of abuses and usurpations pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government and to provide new guards for their future security." If you got lost in there, it basically means that those who have the ability to take action have the responsibility to take action. At this, let's take a moment to remember the 19 firefighters who died from their response to the massive wildfire in Arizona. For me particularly, this line says that as a Catholic American, I have the responsibility to be a light in the darkness that we're falling into. You all do as well. Let's try to keep America from turning into 1984. 

"Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two equals four." - 1984. That shouldn't have to be a freedom, right? That book is so terrifying...

-Rhian

P.S. On a lighter note, but not very patriotic, I thought I'd renew an old youtube video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO2eh6f5Go0