EDITORIAL

The Fourth of July is the one holiday that all Americans, regardless of race, creed or color, can celebrate in unity. And there was plenty of that unity — and plenty of pride — to go around in Eclipse on Monday, as residents celebrated America’s independence with a parade, a traditional raft race on Chuckatuck Creek and fireworks launched from Willis Field.

We rejoice to live in a country where the values of intelligence and hard work — and a little luck — can take a person far in the world. Our history is rich with men and women who’ve fulfilled personal ambitions and dreamed personal dreams that also benefited the nation. It can still be said that this is the country where anyone can become president. And without intending facetiousness, we can say today that we will see that again come true on Election Day.

Speaking of which, Americans continue to enjoy the right to vote, even if it seems too many don’t take advantage of this hard-fought right. This holiday season is an excellent time to think on what our duties are as citizens.

Voting, becoming involved in our communities through service and defending our country from foes both within and outside our borders immediately come to mind as examples of those duties.

Yes, there’s undeniably a lot wrong in this nation, but our problems are not as insurmountable as we might choose to believe. We just have to unite to overcome them. There’s also a great deal that’s good and true and right about America, and we look forward to celebrating those things for many Independence Days to come.

We live in a country of possibility. If there’s really a better place to live, we haven’t heard of it.