We come once again to another July Fourth, the 243rd birthday of our great country.

Sure, the United States has its flaws like all other countries. But just like celebrating a person's birthday, you focus on their good qualities and what they have done in life. Life is a fragile thing and you are happy when you can mark off another year of being alive. There were times in the past where no one thought the United States would celebrate its birthday. Yet we are here, despite the unspeakable carnage at Gettysburg in 1863 or the threat of a nuclear strike in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

Americans were divided during those times too. The rhetoric before and during the Civil War was unbelievable. Americans were also divided during the Revolutionary War. If you want an idea of how divided they were, read "Tracts of the American Revolution 1763-1776." It is a fascinating insight into what our forefathers debated over.

Today, things seem bad when you look at the media and witness partisanship. Everyone seems divided and believes in totally opposite narratives. I will not deny that the media is doing a horrible job of being objective and it's fanning the flames in order to obtain profits. But that is not the point of this article. The point is that in three days, we should all celebrate America's birthday.

Everyone has different family traditions on July Fourth. For mine, we usually plan a family gathering at my house, grill hamburgers and hotdogs (can't get any more American than that!), swim in our pool and play volleyball or badminton. Usually, no one talks about politics or the government. If we talk about America, we take the time during prayer to thank God for our freedom and democratic republic. And if we really take time to reflect, we thank God for the bravery of our ancestors who decided to take a stand against tyranny and give everything for liberty, even their own lives.

We are fortunate because there are billions of people who lack the freedoms we have in the United States. We have the freedom to debate ideas and choose political parties. We have the freedom to start our own businesses or associations. We have the freedom to choose and live by our personal and religious beliefs. You can find plenty of stories in the news of people being murdered or persecuted in other countries for what they believe in. Muslims are suffering under the Chinese government for their beliefs. Christians in many countries, like Nigeria or India, also face persecution for following their religion. Homosexuals can be executed in Saudi Arabia and the act itself is illegal in several other countries.

We have it really good in the United States. I think it's fair for every American to appreciate what we have on July Fourth.

Inevitably the news and most politicians will continue the drama we watch and hear every day, even on July Fourth. Someone will yell about President Trump or there will be more rants about Nancy Pelosi. How about we tune out the news on July Fourth and enjoy the day with our families and friends. Let's ignore political differences and treat each other as Americans. Let's celebrate the birthday of our country and take pride in its achievements.

For me, I am going to enjoy eating hot dogs and the swimming pool.