Happy Fourth of July

 

"There are two types of competitive behavior. One is a sense of competition because you want to be at the top. You create obstacles and harm someone. That competition is negative. But there is a positive kind of competition, which benefits the individual, the competitors, and the economy. Let your competitors also grow, without any sense of harming them." Dalai Lama

The last three nights someone has set off cannon fireworks which has shook the house and scared poor Merlin half to death with Pixie cowering behind him. It looks like the fireworks for tonight may be put on by Mother Nature instead with strong thunderstorms forecast.

My Dad was into genealogy and was very happy when he found that we were related to James Wilson who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. James had a very up and down life but was a fiery orator who strongly believed in independence for the colonies.

I love my country and believe that America is a wonderful place. I don't care for politics however because of all the mud slinging and negativity that takes place. This country was founded on the two party system and we need to remember that during the run of the million candidates for President. In spite of the rhetoric there is a place for conservative Republicans, liberal Democrats and all those in between. Just because a person has a different political view from the one you hold that doesn't make that person anti-American. A good American will speak his or her mind on the issues of the day and if they disagree with the current policy it is all the more important for them to speak up. Disagreeing with a policy is the right of every American. Speaking up is the right of every American. Freedom of Speech is an important right and we need to defend it.

Our government governs at our will, the will of the people who elect them. If they can't or won't listen to what the people want then it is our right as citizens to vote them out of office. Every two years we are voting for some office whether it is our congressman or our president. We need to be involved. We need to tell our candidates and political commentators that we want to hear about the issues not personal attacks. Where do the candidates stand on the things that affect our lives? What are their plans for making things better for us? It is time that we as Americans take back the campaign trail and let those running know that we are tired of the mud slinging. Issues not mud. That should be our rally cry for this fourth of July.

The picture is called Fireworks.

The real counter is 5564.