Nothing technical today. Today is about perspective. 231 Years ago, a bunch of colonist told the most powerful nation in the world that they were sick and tired and weren’t going to take it anymore. Five years later, they finally won their independence on the field, though it would be two years until a treaty was signed and another four years until they put an effective means of running it in place.

Think about that. Some of the brightest minds of the time took 11 years to go from declaring themselves ready for independence to actually realizing the dream of the United States. Every man that signed the Declaration of Independence knew that they were committing treason. They did it anyway, because the dream meant that much to them.

They didn’t agree on every issue. One issue in particular almost erupted into a small civil war in 1832 before erupting into an actual Civil War almost 30 years later. They got past it and our country came out stronger and better prepared for the next century.

In today’s world, we focus so much on what is happening now that we don’t always appreciate what has happened before. Lives have been sacrificed for the principles of the United States. Today isn’t about fireworks or the Star Spangled Banner. It is about remembering what it was that the 56 signers of the Declaration saw when they looked out their windows upon this land. A place for dreams. A place were all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

Do you think you know enough about our country? Try this sample exam at MSNBC. If you don’t get at least an 95%, you need to hit the books. It isn’t enough to know what is going on in today’s world. Everyone should know what happened to shape our world and give us the freedoms that we take for granted.

Meanwhile, I’m going to go work on that whole pursuit of Happiness bit. Enjoy the 4th!