Happy Birthday, America!

My first post...

Happy birthday, America!
You know, its pretty easy to be patriotic when you're an American living abroad. You have the chance to honor what's right about the nation, instead of getting so garbled up in debating its shortcomings. My favorite Independence Day celebration ever was 1995 in Cairo, Egypt. The school opened up to anyone with an American passport, and everyone kinda spent the day in general celebration. Marines and missionaries, teachers and businessmen, enjoyed music, swimming, food, drink... and a good time was had by all. For that little while, Americans from all different backgrounds, brought to this foreign land by a myriad of callings, socialized and celebrated and played together for no other reason than because they hailed from the same great country - a country worth celebrating.

Cheers... to the land of the free and the home of the brave...