My oldest daughter, aged 8, asked me, “What’s so big about the 4th of July?” Wondering how many others don’t really know the importance of Independence Day, other than having a day off from work, I thought I might share a few thoughts and pictures.

In between, the parades, the fireworks (see pictures below of the fireworks display in Abington PA), the BBQs, the swimming, picnics and parties with family and friends, take a moment to consider the meaning of Independence Day.

The July Fourth Holiday commemorates the date that the language for the American Declaration of Independence was finalized, July 4, 1776. The actual signing didn’t take place until August 2, 1776, contrary to popular belief.

The second sentence lays out a truly sweeping if not historically groundbreaking statement on human rights:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

This, in one elegant sentence, lays the foundation for what it means to be American!

ALL men are created equal… Endowed with certain unalienable Rights... Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

So if we’re Americans and count ourselves among the patriotic, we really need to consider (or reconsider) this statement as the foundational concept that it is.

If we believe in America as something more than a place to make a living and live in relative peace, then we had better put aside our prejudices, our biases and our other notions that run contrary to these principles, and take some time to reflect on what this statement truly means.

If we are truly patriotic and believe in America, this guiding ideal should inform our politics, our opinions and the values we’re willing to stand up for. It should trump petty differences that tend to alienate various population groups from one another.

The Declaration of Independence. For some, the ideals within are still as radical today as they were in 1776 - as evidenced by the reporting and commentary found on 24 hour news channels. For others they are worth dying for.

But no matter what our position on day-to-day issues, the idea that all men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights, and that among those are Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness rings true as the quintessential statement on America, being American, and true Americanism.