A HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY TO AMERICA AND THE WORLD
We wish all fellow Americans and our friends in other cultures and communities a very Happy 4th of July. It is America's most important national holiday, but it symbolizes hope and promise for people in other nations - many who are enjoying the freedoms and sacred rights in democracies, and those who are yearning to be free and imagine constitutional blessings and sacred rights that come with democratic forms of governments.
Enjoy a thoughtful reflection on what it means to be an American written by KP Singh, part of an article titled, "4th of July has meaning for people of faith," The Indianapolis Star on July 3, 2010:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4th of JULY HAS MEANING FOR PEOPLE OF FAITH
Indianapolis Star - July 3, 2010
Kanwal Prakash "KP" Singh, Sikh community spokesman, interfaith leader
Paris, France
The human heart and spirit yearn for freedom of thought, liberty to hold sacred cherished traditions and values, find success and happiness that we universally strive and pray for, and celebrate major and meaningful events in our lives and in the life of our great nation.
For Americans, the Fourth of July is more than a historically significant event in American history; it is much larger: a day to rejoice and celebrate the journey of the American Republic with friends and family, to rededicate ourselves for what the holiday stands for and to strengthen our faith in the sacred ideal: "One nation under God, with liberty and justice for all."
Generations of Americans have nurtured and advanced this great vision of our Founding Fathers. Today, many faiths, cultural communities and people from distant lands flourish all around us. The American ideal that "all men are created equal" echoes and affirms spiritual inspiration and understanding. Countless millions extend a hand of personal friendship to one another. America lends its power and prestige to advanced and developing nations in friendship and in times of crisis.
This American innate goodness and generosity is faith- and spirit-driven, revealing that our values are anchored in enlightened founding principles and familiar proclamations and commandments enshrined in many faiths. People and cultures have converged in this blessed land as if by some providential direction to create a place in which "all tribes of humanity" may prosper in peace. American tradition reminds us in the majestic Statue of Liberty to make room for those who suffer and struggle, those who dream big and help build a nation that stands as a beacon of hope to the farthest corners of the human universe. Many in desperation, others in anticipation abandon the comfort of the familiar for the uncertainty of a brighter future on a wing and prayer.
Along the journey, each wave of the modern-day pioneers has transcended traditional frontiers and offered unimagined gifts to their new nation. Together we have explored welcome common perspectives, witnessed growing vitality, colorful heritages and breathtaking innovations taking shape across the American landscape to benefit all humanity.
We see this as faith and our collective hopes and visions at work here. The Fourth of July family gatherings, fireworks and festive expressions are a celebration of our pride in each other and our intertwined destiny as a human family. The Fourth of July is a sacred day in America, yet the impact of this living manifestation of our proud history ripples across the globe. We can see the American presence on the Africa Mercy Ship in Lomé, Togo, the streets of New Delhi, or the power corridors of nations. An unmistakable cultural anchor defines our character and our celebrated secular holiday, and reminds us that today, many spiritual inspirations converge and enrich our heritage and annual commemorations; that is a worthy moment to be proud of.
A very happy Fourth of July to all from Paris, France.
Full article:
