What are We Celebrating?

Independence Day or July the Fourth....however you choose to name today....is a great celebration in this grand U. S. A. What does this day mean to you? I am here to pose that question and perhaps attempt to answer it in my own humble way.
When I was a child growing up in a rather poor country home, this day meant getting to go to the county fair or looking forward to my older brother bringing home some fireworks. Setting off firecrackers in the backyard was especially fun. History was the furthest thing from my mind...
Today, living in this country....seeing what has happened in just the last decade, experiencing perilous times....being a witness to the horror of 9/11, has changed my outlook on the celebration of Independence Day.
When I think about how safe this country used to be....or at least, feel, and when I see all that is going on now, I wonder just how much freedom means to our citizens. Every time I see someone disrespect our President or put down our fighting men and women....I think about just how far we have come from the great country we started out as and where we are now. It is scary. Do you think that people like Abe Lincoln and Tom Jefferson and a bunch of other great countrymen of our past would talk like some of today's politicians? The principles that this country were founded upon have been sadly compromised for the principles of greed and self-destruction. Where are we headed? I dare to ask such a question on a day when we are supposed to be celebrating freedom....but I ask it just the same...because I fear for our freedom, and I fear for our Independence....if we lose sight of how these blessings came about...not from running from those who threaten our country...that is for sure! This country became great because of bravery, not cowardice. I just can't help but believe that the cost of freedom never goes down...and that when no one wants to pay the price...we may find ourselves losing the freedoms that cost so many so much!