Independence Day With A Difference

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Dr. Gold, Ph.D, LMHC, Licensed and Board Certified Clinical MentalHealth Counselor, with a Ph.D in psychology, is in private practice at her home office in Fort Salonga, specializing in relationships and integrating traditional methods with holistic ones.  She works with all type problems. She is a Life Coach, Workshop Leader, Lecturer, and published Author. Please contact her at drgold6@optimum.net.
    Many of us celebrate with barbecues and fire works. But how many of us  know what Independence Day signifies?
    On July 4, 1776, the thirteen colonies claimed their independence from England; an event which eventually led to the formation of the United States. Each year on July 4th, also known as Independence Day, Americans celebrate this historic event.
    Conflict between the colonies and England was already a year old when the colonies convened a Continental Congress in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776. In a June 7 session in the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall), Richard Henry Lee of Virginia presented a resolution with the famous words: "Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."
    This was such a milestone of solidarity in our country’s history.
    What about now? This is not a political statement.  This has little to do with how each of us voted or did not vote in November 2017. It has to do with getting along in peace with one another and coming together.
    Of course not everybody was happy with who won as our present president of the United States.
    The point is, that person is in office now, and whatever our personal views on this individual – I’m not stating my own views nor asking you yours; that’s immaterial – it is high time that we  now come together. This ranting and raving against the highest office is very disrespectful of the office and of our country. All it is doing is dividing us. It is doing nothing positive. In fact, it is giving us a bad reputation with other countries, to the tune of that  since we can’t get along with one another; evidenced by such vitriolic attacks; then how can we get along with other countries?  There is much of truth to that statement.
    So how about this July 4th we celebrate the togetherness of our precious nation. Nobody gets everything they want in life, so to continue complaining, attacking and nasty name calling is not adult, it is not nice, it is not what our country is about.
    As President John Kennedy said many years ago “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.”
    What we can do for our country and for the world right now is to set a good example by celebrating our differences, thus coming together as individuals and, whatever our personal views, supporting the great office and each other with decency and respect.