A Nicaraguan 4th of July

A Nicaraguan 4th of July is just like a Nicaraguan 3rd of July, or 5th of July, but for me, it was the first time in a long time that I actually reflected on the significance of OUR 4th of July. Funny, that it takes me NOT celebrating it in order to appreciate it. I was telling my teacher about it being a big holiday in the states, and it dawned on me how they have nothing like that to celebrate here. I have never felt so lucky to be an American as I do right now. Ive spent the past 10 years or so irate about U.S. politics and the crap that goes on in our country, even quite ashamed and embarrassed to be an American. But, for all our faults, I am so happy to be a U.S. citizen. Of course, Im not going to stop complaining about what an idiot I think Bush is, or stop pushing for change in our policies and attitudes toward other nations and civil rights issues, or the host of other problems that need to be addressed for us to really improve as a nation. But, the point is that I CAN do those things. And, with time I am still hopeful that the rest of the US will come around and completely agree with my viewpoints so that we can become a perfect nation. Just kidding. And, the bottom line is this...no matter how poor you are, or what rotten circumstances you are born into, if you live in the United States, anything is possible. Here, that is not so. Ive met so many intelligent and educated Nicaraguans who have no hope of ever having a better life. They have a college degree but can not even make enough money to purchase a passport to get out of Nicaragua and make a better life for themselves. And those that dont have a college degree...forget it. There are people working on the coffee plantations that make 3 cordobas an hour. That means they have to work almost 9 hours a day to make the equivalent of one US dollar. Okay enough of the pumping up American talk. Im starting to sound like a Republican! : ) Hope everyone had a GREAT 4th of July, and may this entry make you think and (gulp) be proud...or least happy...to be an American.