When a Meltdown is a Good Thing

So ... Happy Birthday America! Wahoo! Fireworks! Parades! Ro-d-oes! Fun! Fun! Fun! Everyone loves the 4th: well, maybe with the exception of the emergency room workers who have to deal with all the drunken people blowing off their fingers with fireworks and all the firemen who have to put out hundreds of grass fires caused by fireworks. (Really, whoever thought selling mobile gun powder to the masses was a good idea?)

I love America. I would never dream of living anywhere else. Well, maybe Hawaii. Oh wait, that's America too. I should pause and honor America--all of our past triumphs and all of our future hopes, but I'm not going to do that with this post. Instead, let's talk about something else.

Do you remember learning in social studies that America was the Great Melting Pot?

I always loved that analogy. No matter where you came from, no matter who you were, once you became a citizen of the United States of America, you were put in with the mix, where you BONDED (which is another word to describe merge or melt) with your neighbors and then worked TOGETHER in one massive force.

Just stop and think about that for a second. Is that how you see America now? It kinda seems like we've become a society of hundreds of different porcupines, where each porcupine (or social/political/special interest group) stands up and yells for what they believe is right and no one better tell them they are wrong or that there might be a different solution or--BAM--you will get quilled.

Here is an assignment for you: love and accept someone who is different than you just because they are an American. Or even better yet, love and accept someone who is different than you even if they aren't American (yes, that even means Canadians) (OK, that was naughty. I was just trying to be funny and instead I was mean. Sorry, sorry, sorry.) just because they are another child of God.

Do you accept? Of course you do!

Now, just for fun, let's do something else melting pot-ish.

What are your favorite things from other countries that have become a part of American culture?

My boys would like to say thank you to China for introducing us to fireworks. (As always, I pray every 4th of July that no one in my household will get blowed up.)

My boys would also like to thank Germany for their excellence in the automotive industry. (Yes, I know Audi is not pictured here. I will never be forgiven for this. )

I would like to say thank you to Mexico for your fine Fresh Mex food. Without you I would be thin, so thanks for that. 

I would like to thank Brazil for your lemonade, which is really limeade, which is really a non-alcoholic Happy Juice and I am a limeaholic.

I wanted to give you the link, but the site is down. Try ourbestbites.com one of these days and see if you can find it. And as you know, Brazilian women are gorgeous and have rockin bods, so it must be OK to drink large portions of this even though it is made with sugar and sweetened condensed milk. Everyone drink up!

Teenage girls across America would like to thank Great Britain for these guys:

One Direction

Caitlin, I always keep my promises. You're welcome.

And speaking of the Brits, thanks for this:

When does Season 3 air? Anyone know?

What are your favorite imports that have become a part of your daily American lives? Do share!