Once again, Americans are ready to celebrate the 4th of July. Very ready indeed. But let's remember that the holiday is actually known as Independence Day, marking the anniversary of the act of American Patriots in declaring independence from Great Britain. 

The Declaration of Independence is the nation’s birth certificate. More than that, Independence Day marks a momentous event in human history. For the first time a new nation was established upon the premise 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. 

For more than 200 years, the United States of America has been learning how to fulfill that promise. But on Independence Day, we celebrate the fact that this world-changing promise was made and a new nation was born. A nation founded upon liberty, dignity and self-government. Happy Independence Day.