This weekend we celebrate the 4th of July, our Independence from England after the Revolution War in 1776. This year we celebrate America’s 250th birthday. I was a child during the 200th birthday of America in 1976, and I’m still here for the party.

Things were different back then than it is today. People were more patriotic than they seems to be today.

PATRIOTIC: showing a deep love, devotion, and sense of attachment to one’s country or homeland.

Back in 1976, when we celebrate America’s 200th birthday, we may have had our problems but nothing like it is today. We just got out of the Vietnam War. President Richard Nixon resigned 2 years earlier on my birthday, Aug. 9, 1965, because of WATERGATE.

WATERGATE: was a political scandal involving President Nixon. On June 17, 1972, operatives associated with Nixon’s 1972 re-election campaign were caught burglarizing and planting listening devices at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington DC. It was considered to be the greatest presidential scandal that tarnished Nixon’s legacy.

Gerald Ford was president in 1976, after replacing Nixon. He never stood a chance against Jimmy Carter, a relatively unknown peanut farmer, who was also the governor of Georgia.

The American people wasn’t happy but they were still patriotic. We got together to celebrate America’s birthday; despite of our disagreement and being upset.

I was 10 going on 11 years old at the time, living in West Fargo. There was pride in the American people. We didn’t care what political party you voted, the color of your skin, or your religion. There wasn’t the talk about being gay, straight, or trans. Trans was never a “hot” it is today. Back then, it was boys and girls, either you were a tomboy or a sissy, depending on your sex or sexual preference.

Even after 9/11 in 2001, America was still united. The American people were upset when the terrorist attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Yet, we were still united. There seems to have been a mini revival during that time, as people flocked back to church to pray for America. People relatively got along politically. They accepted one another opinions and political views.

We even elected our first African American President in 2008 with Obama. That’s a milestone for a country celebrating 250th years. We have overcame a lot as a country, as we had grown to become 50 states and the most powerful country in the world. We have fought to free the slaves during the Civil War, and still got past our differences. We gave blacks and women the rights to vote and own land. We had the Civil Rights movement in the 50’s and 60’s; and still survived. We survived 2 world wars and terrorist attack. Quite a feat!!

America has became prosperous and industrialist. We were introduced to social media during the time of Obama. Was that our downfall? Some say it was, some say it was Obama, and some say it is President Trump.

We should be happy to be celebrating our 250th birthday. Yet, there are some who refused to celebrate. There is a big divide in our country right now. When the USA beats Canada Hockey at the winter Olympics, that was a proud moments for America. Yet, those on the Left couldn’t celebrate that.

We have the world soccer tournaments going on in America, and players from other countries are so proud of America. They are more proud of America than those on the Left. You hear celebrities saying that they want to leave America because of President Trump.

Where is all this hatred coming from, that they can’t celebrate America’s birthday? Where is all this hatred coming from that they want to kill our president instead of accepting the fact and work together for the common goods of the people? There are people who refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance and the American flag.

Let us celebrate America’s 250th birthday like we did it’s 200th. Let us show our patriotism and pride for America. The most patriotic song was, “God Bless the USA,” by Lee Greenwood. We are the United States of America and we should be united and proud to be an American.

I’m proud to be an American and I love America. I just don’t love seeing certain people running down our country and our president.

God Bless America!! Happy Birthday America!! Let us stand united with one another and celebrate this milestone. America has come along way to become the nation we are today. It shouldn’t matter who our president is.