the 4th of July

The number 4 in Chinese means death, or to die, it 's an unfortunate number. In the U.S. or I suppose western culture 13 is pretty awful.

Every year I look towards the 4th of July as just another lazy day in summer, sometimes spending it with family and other years with friends. This year it's a combination of the both and after reading some books which have mentioned America as a nation for the free and independent, I can't help but be a little bitter.

With the economy so down in the dumps and the current Administration looked upon to do something magnanimous about it, I feel hopeful and so far disappointed. I realize that to look up to Obama to fix everything is unfair to him, but he's a representative of what the American struggle. He's succeeded. It's something that I mean to do once I get through all education and work experience stuff.

I know that people say that happiness doesn't come from money but from acceptance from family, but money is a really important part of that. Money is what affects your family's moods and how they view life. Those who are affluent need not worry about money and how your family is going to afford to pay the rent or put food on the table. These are the people who have to find happiness in the aforementioned way.

Finances are what drive this country. It's true. After working in the federal government for only two weeks I have already heard millions of dollars being tossed around for projects. Or even billions of dollars. I wonder where the government finds all this money. The people who carry out these projects must be paid and their employees have to be paid. I wish that our capitalist system was less about profit and more about making sure that everyone was comfortable, and still generating a profit.

How can we let people live on the streets when we are throwing extra food into the trash and buying useless electronics that we don't really need? Why are we worrying about the inconsequential things when there are those who are struggling every day to project the appearance of being well situated so that they don't lose the respect of their peers and co workers? Why does the press focus so much on celebrities who are obviously so well off? Should there not be more news about the homeowners who are going bankrupt and the failure of American schools to teach values to the students? Are the plights of the average joe less newsworthy? How could it be when we all at times feel the same pain and struggles.

Why are people more likely to sacrifice for stars than the cusp of retirement couple who can't make ends meet?

So let's celebrate the independence we won from the British on this momentous day. We deserve it, we strove hard and long. It's a day of remembrance and a reprieve from the hardships of daily life, but not a holiday from reality.