Happy birthday, USA!

Today, the United States of America marks its 245th Independence Day which celebrates the approval of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 making the USA an independent country. It is a federal holiday, which this year falls on a Sunday, thus extending the festivities until July 5th. This year would be a more meaningful July 4th celebration compared to last year as there is a different sense of freedom after having most, if not all, COVID-19 restrictions already lifted. There is a national collective sigh of relief as fears of the pandemic have subsided and people have been seeing some semblance of normalcy. Fireworks, cook-outs, family reunions, parades, concerts, and other forms of celebrations are expected to be staged across America at this "holiday of holidays".

What lies at the very heart of this holiday is the sacrosanct guarantee embodied in the Declaration of Independence that states "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." It further adds that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Such a very powerful text which has since become the bedrock of democratic societies all over the world. From this passage alone, we can reflect on the following ideas and ideals:

1.) Belief in a Creator;

2.) All men are created equal;

3.) Unalienable rights or rights that cannot be given up, taken away, transferred from, denied, or refused;

4.) We all have the right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness;

5.) All of the above are truths that are self-evident or truths that do not need to be explained;

6.) That a government is created not from a monarchy or a ruling person or family but among men, or among the people it seeks to govern;

7.) And its power is sourced, again not from an individual or ruling class, but by the people who allow or permit themselves to be governed.

As these ideals were true in 1776, their relevance still reign even in 2021 and beyond. May we all find a few moments to reflect on the true meaning of July 4th and how we can preserve and keep the meaning of these self-evident truths.

* * *

Another important event is also happening every Independence Day. Across the country, naturalization ceremonies are held with America showing its warm embrace to its new citizens. This year, President Biden held one at the White House on July 2 in addition to the other 170 naturalization ceremonies between June 30 and July 7 involving more than 9,400 new Americans.

As I often see with all of my clients who became naturalized Americans, there is a sense of self-fulfillment and a realization of an achievement of the American dream. All the hardships that they endured from their home countries have now become a distant memory as being an American promises renewal, hope, and new opportunities.

Congratulations to all who have achieved this important milestone in their immigration journey.