Today I join in celebrating the liberty our republic has enjoyed. To me patriotism isn’t about mindlessly praising a powerful nation that has done great good while ignoring evil deeds done in the name of that country. It seems to me that liberty is being able to do what is right and good, not license to do whatever we please.  If we are in fact endowed with liberty by our Creator, then that liberty is inherently good and promotes what is good.

I appreciate that Ray Charles began his wonderful rendition of America the Beautiful with the third verse…a prayer that God will refine America’s gold. We can have long discussions about America’s flaws, but I think today is a good time to celebrate our blessings and what we have done right and commit to restore liberties lost.