Happy Fourth of July to all my fellow Americans! I love July fourth, it’s the perfect excuse to take a day to lounge by the pool with family and friends, grilling out and chilling out. This is the first Independence Day that I have really appreciated what it means to have freedom: Freedom of speech, press and information, religion, assembly, petition, equal justice, private property…if you were born and raised in the United States it’s easy to take these things for granted. We enroll in only a few American history and government courses during our educational careers, courses aimed at teaching us about the country we live in and the opportunities and freedom which we have access. However, it has been my experiences abroad that have made me grateful to be born an American citizen. Our country is far from perfect, but I believe our right to knowledge and information is surely something to be celebrated. The fact that we, as U.S. citizens, have the right to hold our government accountable, access public records, and publish that information, is something we should celebrate.

I look forward to opportunities to travel and live abroad, but America will always be home. Happy Independence Day everyone! Enjoy your family, friends, and freedoms!

And here is the greatest speech from a fictional movie, ever. Enjoy!