The Third Cup

Celebrating Freedom

Hi neighbors. Happy Fourth of July! I hope you are all enjoying a nice day with family and friends and looking forward to lots of fireworks and watermelon.

For most students summer school is over and "regular" school doesn't start till August.

This weekend, however, I've been getting together a few school supplies for an e-mail friend in Iraq. He is in the United States Army and requested some help with school supplies for the kids in Iraq. His squad had rebuilt the school and are sponsoring it by asking for donated supplies of paper and pencils.

Although I know this person is trustworthy and sincere, I simply don't have the wherewithall to contribute much. But Bill chipped in a few dollars and we got a couple of packs of paper, some colored pencils, regular pencils, paper folders and a hand-held pencil sharpener to send. Doesn't sound like much, I know, but for a school with nothing, I'm sure every little bit is needed.

We searched for brightly colored folders because I imagine there isn't much color in the life of a young child in a war-torn country. We deliberately avoided folders with cartoon characters, logos, or any picture that might be offensive to people not used to the American culture. I hope just the bright colors aren't a problem. As I was thinking about it, I realized I don't know if Arabic is written on lined paper or not. This time the kids will have to make do with lined paper and as I learn more about what they need, I'll send what I can.

Anyway, it brought to mind how little I know about the people of Iraq, their language and their lifestyle. I'm trusting our minimal contribution will help demonstrate to the Iraqi children what can be done when many people contribute to help others, even if only in small ways.

Of course, I am proudly an American, and I made certain the school supplies I bought had "Made in America" written prominently on them. It might not mean much to some people, but it means a lot to me that gifts from an American family shouldn't have tags that say they were made somewhere else.

Many school buildings sat empty, in poor repair, or were used to store weapons before our troops started rebuilding them. I just hope our government finds a way to get some watermelon, ice cream and apple pies to the troops this Fourth of July. To me it's a very important holiday and I believe the troops would certainly feel the same.

Iraq's "Independence Day" won't be far from our own at least on the calendars for future celebrations. I haven't heard if they are going to make a holiday of the day they took control of their own country, or if they want to wait until the first elections are held and make that their "official' starting date. Either way, there are big changes ahead for that country, as well as Afghanistan. Learning the joy and responsibilities of freedom is a big leap for both countries.

As Americans I think we should take a few minutes today to consider what freedoms we have that we so often take for granted. The right to speak freely anywhere in our country; to travel from state to state without special permission, to work where we choose, go to school where we will, live where we want, vote for whom we want ... all precious freedoms. And these are just a few of the most basic ones. Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness ... what do these words mean to you? How would our lives be different if these freedoms and rights disappeared? What are we doing to keep them for ourselves and our children? The most dramatic and effective, long-term weapons in the war on terror are education, communication, and information. A society where all of the people are offered the opportunity for an education and the freedom of expression, will find the information it needs to make choices to guarantee its own stability and growth.

America learned that truth from its founders and the millions of immigrants who flocked here to put those ideals into action. We celebrate that truth each year on the 4th of July. Let's hope Iraq can be celebrating their own freedoms this time next year.

Until the next time friends remember; have a happy Fourth, and be careful with those fireworks!