(Formerly published July 1, 2024 to LinkedIn.)

Do you know that our Fourth of July parades and fireworks celebrate what took place two days earlier on July 2? The Continental Congress declared that the United Colonies “are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States” that day. A written justification, what we know as the Declaration of Independence, was then authored, and signed July 4, 1776.

The colonies’ rejection of British rule is very much worth celebrating today. The truths embedded in the Declaration of Independence making us a unique nation are worth celebrating. The fact that the United States relies on its people, and our consent to govern, is worth celebrating. Our right to agree to disagree is worth celebrating. The fact that our declared independence bound us together, all of us, as Americans with guaranteed natural rights is worth celebrating. The right to individualism and equal personal value, the right to our own choices, and the right to pursue our dreams, are worth celebrating. We live in the greatest country in the world.

Like every nation, we have our issues. However, our nation and the possibilities each of us faces are amazing. We should never forget that, yet we sometimes do. When we focus on what we do not have, do not get, don’t feel, or don’t like without taking responsibility for our own attitudes and actions, we can start expending our energy in attacking our country. We can start attacking each other and weaken the strengths we have as Americans. It is not called for; it is not necessary.

Each of us is privileged in the country; each of us has a lot of rights and a world of opportunity as we reside in the United States. We can be patriots and live here with a sense of pride. Deep appreciation and gratefulness should fill our Fourth of July celebrations. We should remember with reverence the sacrifices thousands of brave men and women made, from all backgrounds, to make sure the United States of American stands strong and unified. Many of these people lost their lives for what we have. Thank you! I am proud to call the United States home.

Our “home” nation offers a lot to us as we celebrate the Fourth of July. We get to determine how much we can learn; how well we do in school; who we make friends with; how many children we have; where we live; what kind of car we own; what brand of clothes we wear; what our hobbies are; what work to pursue; how hard to work; how many jobs to have; our personal bar for excellence; how many books we read; how many languages we learn; how many free courses we take; how often we use public libraries and parks; how much we invest in those around us; how much good we choose to do; what our moral compass looks like; what our personal integrity is; whether or not we tell our own story; how we treat family, friends, and colleagues; whether we view race as an obstacle or a possibility; how we spend our discretionary funds; what we do with our time; what our religious preferences are; what our politics are; whether we start our own business; and who we choose as our community. There are no rules against friendships and cooperative efforts among and across social classes, races, skin colors, sizes, shapes, IQs, aptitudes, talents, and preferences. The opportunity areas for collaboration and dream fulfillment are limitless. We get to determine our village. We get to determine how hard we try and who we call a friend.

As Americans we have many rights not experienced around the world. Let us not squander them. We also have a lot of independence. Independence is unseen throughout the globe. America is a land proliferated with choices. With choices, comes personal responsibility. We sometimes forget the latter. How we choose to make our choice is totally up to us.

Thankfully, we live in a country that has much in place to help us, and to prop us up if we fail. We have made into law a host of safeguards supporting us as we pursue opportunities of all kinds. For instance, education is available to anyone wanting to complete up to 12th grade. Community colleges are affordably priced, many participate in the federal A+ program which lets students attend free. Pell grants are available to disadvantaged students who want to attend a university. The United States military provides financial support to those who take college classes. Growing apprenticeship programs across the United States provide hands-on paid training and support for a variety of curriculum.

Additionally, we have a variety of other safety nets available to us. Among them are Social Security for the mature population; unemployment insurance for those who lose their jobs; Head Start for those need access to childcare; the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to help women, children and infants; Medicare for those aged 65 and older; Medicaid to provide the disadvantaged access to healthcare; supplemental security income for those who cannot work; the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to provide tax relief for those raising dependents; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to assist families as they work to secure financial stability; the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to bridge the child healthcare insurance gap; and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to extend health care insurance to all households. For those experiencing financial crises we also have federal bankruptcy laws to assist and to give those over-burdened a fresh start (US Courts). We have an inspiring support network unlike anywhere else.

Beyond our personal lives, we are free to pursue new business opportunities anytime, anywhere. My family immigrated here not knowing the language or culture, but we knew one thing for certain. In America, you can change your trajectory, but it comes at a price: hard work. In fact, a record number of new businesses, nearly 5.5 million, were started in 2023. This is nearly 8% more new businesses than in 2022 and the highest number on record. The American “can do” spirit is going strong. As a way of celebrating our independence, I encourage everyone to go out of their way to support a small business.

Additionally, in the United States there are banking options to fund new and sustaining businesses. Among those are large commercial banks, credit unions, community banks, peer-to-peer lenders, community development financial institutions, and fintech lenders. Small business loans (SBAs) are available through the federal government. As a hedge against future unseen crises, new and established business owners can purchase insurance. They can also seek bankruptcy protection when struggling and our “bankruptcy laws…protect financially troubled businesses” (US Courts). More recently, we’ve come to recognize opportunity zones as a cooperative effort to uplift and build disadvantaged communities. The Investing in Opportunities Act encourages investments in disadvantaged communities, paving the way for disadvantaged to reach financial stability through new business opportunities. Once again, we’ve got a lot going for us.

The Fourth of July trappings are fun; the reasons behind the Fourth are inspiring. The opportunities that beckon us in the United States are limitless. We can choose to work together to take advantage of them for an even better tomorrow. HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY to greatest country on earth!

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The views expressed in this article are those of the author.