The Fourth

I've never been big into celebrating the Fourth of July. It's not that I don't appreciate freedom, because I really do. I am thankful that my family can do just about anything we decide and my kids have countless options ahead of them in life. Freedom is a tricky thing. It's hard to believe that in our free country, black people were radically segregated and suffered terrible atrocities at the hand of whites as recently as a handful of decades ago. Was America a free country then? Well, not for them. The truth is, there is always oppression, always obstacles, always hinderances to true freedom, even in a free country. Besides, what is freedom anyway? I am not free from paying taxes, or from providing for my children. My lawn must be mowed, the city says so. I am not allowed to drive above the speed limit and am required by law to wear a seat belt. There are always responsibilities and rules. If one didn't have those two things then it would mean not having anything worthwhile in life. Janis Joplin says, "Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose."