Times Have Changed, And Also, They Have Not

​One of the greatest gifts of writing and sharing for 20 years is I have a record of my thoughts over time. I get opportunities to reflect once again on reflections of my past.

I get to see how I have changed. How times have changed. And in many cases, how things have remained much the same.

I wrote the following article on July 4, 2013. Twelve years ago. I suppose there is a little of everything in this article. There is a little I have changed, a little times have changed, and certainly in many ways, there is plenty of nothing has changed at all.

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Today we will head up to take in a July 4th Washington Nationals baseball game. We'll probably eat a hot dog or two, and before the evening is over, take in some fireworks.

It will be an All-American day.

Sometimes I wonder what the founding fathers would think of our America today. Their Declaration of Independence wasn't as much about a vision for their day as it was about a future day. Our day. I've heard our media and politicians and vocal proponents of various ideals give unsolicited responses to my wonder about those founding fathers many times lately.

I hear them say our founding fathers are rolling over in their graves. I'm guessing they believe they wouldn't think well of how we've implemented their plan.

I personally disagree with them all.

I subscribe to the quote above. That freedom, the freedom our founding fathers dreamt of and fought for, and many since have given their lives to keep hold of, has its life in the spirit of men. I know our country has its fair share of ill-spirited citizens. I personally know one or two of them. But the overwhelming majority of the people in my life, and the people in the lives of the people in my life, are beautiful people. They are grateful for the opportunities freedom has presented them, and live lives dedicated to serving others.

I've heard it said that the America we once knew is dying. That may be true. To at least some degree everything is dying. But the freedom Mr. Eisenhower speaks of above is alive and well, at least in my community of friends and family.

For that, I am grateful.