Happy Birthday, U.S.!!

I've been thinking a lot the past couple days about what it means to me to be free.

• It means that I can make choices about my life, instead of having those choices made for me.
• It means that I can think, say, and write what I want without fear of reprisal from the government.
• It means that I can choose not to participate in patriotic activities.
• It means that I can choose to participate in activities critical of my government.
• It means that I can freely travel without suspicion.
• It means that I am protected from search, seizure, and harassment from government agents without just cause.
• It means that I can be protected from discrimination.
• It means that I can vote my conscience. Heck, it means I can VOTE!!
• It means that I can love my country, and love other countries just as much.
• It means that I can be opposed to war without being opposed to my country.
• It means that I can be free from propaganda and think for myself.
• It means that I can support a woman's right to make decisions about her body.
• It means that I can support the right of all citizens to benefit from well, benefits.
• It means that I can support the dignity and rights of all people in this country, whether they are citizens or not.
• It means that I can support the conservation of this earth, in addition to the people on it.
• It means that any of you can disagree with me, and that the resulting discussion will serve to make our nation more interesting, stronger, and a better place to live.

Happy Independence Day!! What does freedom mean to you?

(See the text of the Declaration of Independence.)