A FEW BRIEF AND INCOHERENT THOUGHTS

By Steven Snyder

Last week, with rulings affecting affirmative action, homosexual rights and criminal justice, the United States Supreme Court created ripples in this country’s social, political and cultural fabric. Debates began, people cried, and others proclaimed that, again, this country was on the verge of crumbling apart. This Fourth of July, all I have to say is: What a wonderful nation this is to live in.

After September 11, this country came together as it rarely has over the past 227 years. Americans from the east coast to northern Alaska united around the pain of two cities, and we recognized, perhaps more than ever before, what unites us all. While many of the flags have since come down and some of that unconditional kindness has faded, I believe those events of 2001 continue to remind us why this holiday is worth celebrating in the first place.

Last week, with the Court, the modern divisions in this country became clear. Within the walls of Congress, partisanship has continued to reign supreme. At Universities across the country, equality is still, after all this time, the hot issue of the moment.
But, in a sense, that’s great.

Why do we not hear about such disagreements in other countries? For the most part, it is because citizens in those places either do not have a forum from which to speak, are not part of a system that can be changed or altered, or, in the extreme, fear for their safety if they were to stand out amongst the crowd. Right now in Africa, there are tens of thousands of human beings more concerned about avoiding death than they are about food or water, much less civil liberties.

And while some may point to today as a time of division for our country, from gays to Iraq to political ideologies, I see America today as a concept that will endure because it embraces conflict and challenges. It is fluid and growing.

Disagree? Speak up! Want to change the system? Find those who feel the same and make a change! Don’t like the way your neighbor is acting? Tell them!

Every July, for some reason, I get emotional. I think of all the people who have died to preserve this little North American paradise, and I feel humbled by their efforts and their struggles. I have grown up with Internet, McDonald’s, showers, video games, Microsoft and cell phones. My life is a cake walk because of those who came before.

And you may disagree. That’s what’s so great about this land! I can have my web site, and when you write to tell me I’m a sentimental boob, we can have a conversation. You can decide to never visit Zertinet again, or recommend it to a friend.

What makes America great is this basic freedom. Freedom to see a movie, to start a debate, to be offended and to offend. To dream and reach out for what we want. And, I think, another freedom we take for granted - the freedom to never be scared. Whether it’s money, crime, bigotry or war, the greatest freedom Americans enjoy is that we can go about our lives debating, philosophizing, daydreaming, studying, reading, watching and exploring anything we want. Our basic needs are met and, thanks to that, the sky’s the limit.

Maybe this didn’t make any sense. I really don’t care. All I know is I was feeling lucky and thankful, and wanted to share the buzz.