Celebrating the USA
Happy birthday, USA!
Whether or not you are an American citizen, if you are a member of the global village there is a little bit of America in you. After all, you probably wouldn’t be reading reading this if it weren’t for the Internet—an American invention—accessed through a personal computer—another American invention. Brent Simmons has a longer list of cool American things, people, and places. He’s left out some that I would have included: Walt Disney, Mickey Mouse, Moog Synthesizers, Joseph Campbell, Woody Allen, Philip Glass. Of course, there are many, many more… no country has had as much influence in world culture, economics, and (to sometimes detrimental effects) politics as the US has over the past 150 years.
To my American friends: value your country and its traditions of freedom and civil liberties. Be proactive about protecting and furthering them, and don’t be cowed into silence when they are impinged upon—for any reason.
We are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.
Thomas Jefferson
