Celebrate Freedom At Whose Expense?

          Earlier today, I was struck with the irony of a custom in these United States as American as apple pie and baseball. Don't get me wrong the zeal of Patriotism is apt to course through my emotions as well, in fact the highlight of my day was seeing two bald eagles fly over our family's picnic grove as my uncle, father, brother and I made repairs to a large post and beam swing set. Yet on this July 4th, across the land over harbors, ballparks, and villages fireworks are flying high above, firing their reports above eager onlookers. No matter the generation the campaign rings aloud, celebrate freedom! While the motto finds many nuances of meaning among the masses, an indisputable facet of our freedom has come through our independence from tyranny and financial subjection through our Declaration of Independence from British rule. However, discern for a moment this certain custom, or may I suggest the distraction that has taken center stage on our Independence Day. While the morale of a nation is not to be underestimated, the wisdom and self-control of a self governed people is needed in an even greater measure. Consider the fact that this past year (2013), the United States imported $213 million dollars in fireworks from one country according to a politico.com report.  The supplier, China, is simultaneously reinvesting there profit from our generous consumerism by buying up U.S. debt now totaling 1.317 trillion dollars (Fox News). It was the late Ben Franklin who warned that “creditors have better memories than debtors,” and “rather go to bed supperless than rise in debt.”  

          Wake up America and discern the times, we ought to celebrate all that there is about the freedom of this Great Experiment in which we live, but not toward the demise of freedom itself. Once a nation with apparent contentment to serve God and our neighbor, we now race toward the goals of consumerism and self absorption in unprecedented ways. What a paradoxical message we transmit to the nations beyond our boarder. Perhaps we should take a cue from our forefathers who were willing to forego their afternoon cup of tea and in the end the comforts of life or even life itself in order to cement their convictions in history. 

Proverbs 22:7 - The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.