Rant #2,173: America

Tomorrow is July 4, a big day in our country, recognized as our country's birthday.

So if I did my math correctly, tomorrow, this country is 242 years old.

And for a 242 year old, we are holding up pretty well, although there are people out there who want to divide us, who want to destroy what we have here.

Let them try.

As a nation, we have the resolve to quash any attempt to put us down, whether internally or externally.

We still have lots to learn about what motivates some people to despise this country so, but for every person who hates this country, we have thousands who want to come here, settle here, and live their own versions of the American dream.

So this country can't be that bad; in fact, it remains the greatest country in the world, where your dreams can come true.

Sure, luck plays a big hand in all of this, but the thought is that this is the country where we are most likely to reach our goals, to live, like my father says, "the good life."

I am going to rerun an edited version of Rant No. 996, July 3, 2013, because I think it gets to the essence of the holiday for me.

So here it is, in edited form.

"What are you doing on July 4?

Well, what I can say is that I am doing next to nothing, which I think is pretty good, at least for me.

I don't have to go to work, so at least I can get off that hamster track for one day.

Thus, if I don't have to go to work, I can pass on two things that I abhor: wearing a tie and shaving, at least for one day.

I can sit at home and do little or nothing, which is exactly what I plan on doing.

Anyway, I will probably watch some baseball on TV.

Baseball and July 4 go together like peanut butter does to bread.

You thought I was going to say "and jelly," but I hate jelly.

Anyway, we will have a barbecue.

Barbecues and July 4 go together like ... well, like peanut butter to bread.

We always have a barbecue on July 4, because it is the traditional thing to do.

My wife, who doesn't eat much red meat but is not a vegetarian, eats her one beef hot dog that day.

Hebrew National, of course.

I like Nathan's hot dogs, but Hebrew National is my choice for the best commercial hot dog on the market today.

It simply tastes better than other hot dogs.

And it is kosher, supposedly, so it is held to a higher manufacturing standard.

Later that night, we will hear fireworks all around us, and we might watch fireworks on TV.

I am not as excited by fireworks as some people are.

To me, it is little more than a lot of noise.

And then, that will be July 4 for me.

Then, we will all go back to work, and it will be as if July 4 never happened."

So that is my July 4, pretty much my July 4 each and every year, a day I look forward to.

I hope you have as good a time as my family and I will on the holiday.

Speak to you again on Thursday.