Being an American all year long

We're told that rising gas prices are depressing us ... keeping us close to home ... cutting into our monthly budgets in a big way.

Every day greets us with yet the story of another tragedy somewhere. If not a human tragedy, a natural disaster.

There is civil unrest around the world, and even in our own back yard.

And in the midst of all this, on Friday we will celebrate the Fourth of July.

Will this be a day we party, or a day we just remember how good it used to be? Will this be a day we think back to the 1950s and long for a simpler life? Will this be a day we just shake our heads and wonder what our Founding Fathers would think if they were to come back today?

Will this be more of a three-day weekend than a day to celebrate our liberty?

Like most of you, I love this holiday because it makes me stop and remember what it means to be an American. It makes me remember that freedom is never easy, and sometimes it's not pretty. But it's ours, and we need to hold on to that.

It makes me proud that amidst the high prices of gas, Americans are trying their hardest to survive, and thrive. Sure, we complain about working hard to earn enough money to fill our tanks, but we're allowed to complain. And we're allowed to pump as much gas into our car as we can afford.

There are people working tirelessly - using that American ingenuity, to come up with alternative modes of energy for us. I have no doubt that someday that will happen. But until it does, there are lawmakers arguing about where we can get the energy we need now to survive.

And while they argue, we can rediscover the beauty of our own state. Or dust the cobwebs off our old bikes. Or remember that we can walk to a few places rather than drive a car. And if we must drive, we can offer to take a few friends with us to make the ride worth our while, and have a good time along the way.

Meanwhile, as the disasters continue to unfurl, I take comfort knowing that Americans are helping out in the worst of these, offering help and compassion to those in need. Whether we're sending aid in the form of monetary donations, or whether our citizens are stepping to the front, I know there is an American presence in the worst of these situations, offering help.

And lastly, I take comfort in the fact that amidst civil unrest, we can grow and improve the way we live our lives and treat our neighbors. Nothing ever changes if we sweep our problems under the rug and pretend they don't exist. We need to call one another on wrongs, and work out the differences in a respectful way.

Sometimes it's not pretty. Most times it's downright uncomfortable. But every time, it's worth the effort.

It's what our Founding Fathers did. They ironed out this concept of freedom, and decided it's a goal toward which we should always strive. They argued, they fought, and they came to a concensus on how to proceed with that goal always in mind.

And it's what they encouraged us to continue doing. Fight for those freedoms, and continue using our spirit, our ingenuity, and our love for one another to make this country great.

So once a year, we can take a day to focus on that and remember that freedom is an on-going process. It's something to celebrate with our neighbors. Share a picnic, listen to some good music, watch the fireworks.

It's our day to celebrate the freedoms for which we strive the other 364 days of the year.

Kim Kincaid writes about the big and little things that involve area residents. If you have an item of interest, call her at 419-993-2059 or 800-686-9924. She can be reached by e-mail at kkincaid@limanews.com.