Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

As we are getting ready to light up those grills, hike those beautiful mountains, swim at the lake, lay on the beach or simply just relax at home is important to remember what we are celebrating. Yes, today is independent day, but what does that means?

Independence Day is a day to remember that we all aspire at something bigger, something better, something more than what we have. Early revolutionaries like Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were willing to risk their lives because they believed in something bigger, they believe they could construct a place where people would have unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Of course, their understanding of who would have those rights were different at that time than what we have now, but that comes to show how much we have grown in the last 243 years.

Independence Day is a day to remember that the history of our Country is not the prettiest or the most glorious one, but is one that has taken us to where we are, is one that show that we can learn from our mistakes and become a better country, a better community a better family. Today we celebrate that we have make mistakes, but we have learned from them and because of it we have a better place to live.

Independence Day is a day to celebrate we have come a long way, yet we have further to go. We still have inequalities, we still have abuses, we still have kids going hungry while we waste 40% of the food we produce, today we celebrate that we will continue to work hard to bring equality to our country and that we will never cease to try to improve and build a better place for all where life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is a reality.

Independence Day is a day to remember that we are all call to be better persons, better fathers, better mothers, better sisters and brothers, better neighbors and better citizens, because if we become a better version of ourselves we will have a better country and we will build a better society.

Independence Day is the day to be thankful for living in a country we the possibilities are endless and that we are limited only by our own barriers, a country were hard work will create opportunities and were those opportunities will be turn into success if one continues to work hard.

Finally, Independence Day is a day to remember those who has sacrificed so much so we can live the American dream, to remember those who were willing to paid the ultimate price to defend the values stated in our constitution and that freedom is not the liberty to do whatever we want but the liberty to do what we have to do.

Yes, this is the home of the free because of the brave!