fireworks of morale

   Today is the American Independence Day. It's citizens are celebrating all across the nation with fireworks, cookouts and pool days. Due to extreme heat and dryness across the Southern states, we are going to watch fireworks on the Television, be in the pool all day, eat microwaved corn and force one unlucky uncle to be the grill master. For the most part, our morale seems to be average for an election year. By the grace of our good Lord we have had no earth shattering natural disasters lately; though we have had a slight shake in morale due to HBO's The Newsroom. Two Sundays ago America's "title" of being the greatest nation in the world was, shall we say, discussed in the fast and exciting new series. The main charachter discredited America's present greatness by means of comparative statistics of America versus the world. He moved on to redeem himself by stating that at one point yes, we were the greatest, but some things got in our way. Though this positive end was p.c., it did not erase the previous words. The tirade cause many to really think about the present state of our country. It is known that we rank 25th in math and 21st in science and we have more morbidly obese people per capita than any other country. These facts are not pleasing but it should not define our nation. Statistics should be a guideline to improvement. They should tell us that our teachers need more help and that America should go on a diet. We are a prideful nation, not a stupid one. We possess the fresh skills of progress and determination. We may not be the leading country in elementary school subjects, but we are the leading country of the free world. It is important to set one's goals and strive toward them. I hope we can be the generation that does this. Have a blessed fire-free Fourth folks...and party on.