Independence Day for the United States of America is July 4th. It has been that way all of my life. On July 4th, 1776, the thirteen original colonies issued to Great Britain their Declaration of Independence thereby severing from the Kingdom. Americans started celebrating Independence Day after the war of 1812 and it was officially a national holiday on June 28th, 1876.
In the years following America’s bold move, our forefathers devised the Bill of Rights. Today our interpretation of the Bill of Rights is different than that of our predecessors but the spirit remains the same. As a writer and as a nerd I especially appreciate the First Amendment because it guarantees me the freedom of speech. I am free to write what I want. This is not true everywhere in the world so I enjoy having it.
With the freedom of speech, writers who have come before me have written on so many subjects and have blazed a trail with their own stories. Fantastical worlds, scary monsters, good witches and bad, cheeky comedies, just everything under the sun. Some of my favorite books are erotic, like the Anita Blake series. There are places that writing something like that will cost you your life. Books aren’t the only thing. We have the internet, comics, movies and TV shows and so much more. So many places to express ourselves that we often forget we enjoy freedom each time.
This Independence Day, while enjoying time with family and/or friends, take a few minutes to think about the freedoms you enjoy. Give thanks to the men who forged a new life in a new land. No, we may not always get it right, but we can give thanks and try again. What is your favorite freedom that you enjoy? Let me know in the comments below. Until next week…
