Zachary—
This weekend, our family will join millions of others in celebrating America. We will enjoy the glow of fireworks, the taste of barbeque, and the company of good friends. As we all celebrate this weekend, let’s also remember the remarkable story that led to this day.
Two hundred and thirty-three years ago, our nation was born when a courageous group of patriots pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the proposition that all of us were created equal. [This is bad, but no worse than what most Republicans would say.]
Our country began as a unique experiment in liberty—a bold, evolving [?] quest to achieve a more perfect union. [Pay attention to his use of the term ‘more perfect union.’ He is co-opting those words from the preamble, which aim literally to justify the Constitution, to refer to class and especially race.] And in every generation, another courageous group of patriots has taken us one step closer to fully realizing the dream our founders enshrined on that great day. [See? Our Founders’ dream was a ‘more perfect union’ of citizens of all races and sexual preferences, and—though there’s a lot of work yet to be done—we are slowly approaching the fulfillment of their dream.]
Today, all Americans have a hard-fought birthright to a freedom which enables each of us, no matter our views or background, to help set our nation’s course. America’s greatness has always depended on her citizens embracing that freedom—and fulfilling the duty that comes with it.
As free people, we must each take the challenges and opportunities that face this nation as our own. As long as some Americans still must struggle, none of us can be fully content. [The breathtaking idiocy of this statement is worth savoring. How is this man not a socialist?] And as America comes ever closer to achieving the perfect Union our founders dreamed, that triumph—that pride—belongs to all of us. [Ever closer, indeed.]
So today is a day to reflect on our independence, and the sacrifice of our troops standing in harm’s way to preserve and protect it. It is a day to celebrate all that America is. And today is a time to aspire toward all we can still become.
With very best wishes,
President Barack Obama
July 4th, 2009
P.S.—Our nation’s birthday is also an ideal time to consider serving in your local community. You can find many great ideas for service opportunities near you at http://www.serve.gov.