4th of July Appreciation

I’m the first to admit that there are real challenges for all of us. But a recent series of conversations with my father-in-law makes me appreciate not only my legal education but also the simplicity and grandeur of celebrating the Fourth of July.

My father-in-law is one of the smartest, most intellectually curious people I’ve ever met. Talented too. But he does have a slightly negative opinion of where our country is going. And I’m not talking about just current issues but in the fabric of the body politic. And since he’s around quite often, we have this conversation regularly. And I fall back into those two semesters of law school studying constitutional law.

While the news may seem quite negative, our democracy is an “eb and flow,” constantly on the move, toward a better and brighter tomorrow. The framers, back more than 250 years ago, wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence as the first step in an evolutionary pursuit toward a better society based on the simple concept of democracy. Their brilliance, found in the words of one of our country’s greatest documents, laid out a basic premise of freedom and responsibility. Freedom from tyranny from others and a responsibility to serve the better needs of our democratic society.

The key for me has always been the term “evolutionarily.”  We evolve. We don’t always get it right. But what Winston Churchill said about the concept of democracy is truly important.

“Democracy is the worst form of government – except for all the others that have been tried.”

While there may be arguments, justified, for many of the perspectives of both leaders and citizens, Churchill said a mouthful within a simple sentiment. Whatever complaints one has, our system is better than the other options that the world has experienced.  And we will continue our journey toward “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” on a bumpy road leading to a better day.