A Birthday Party Worth Celebrating
Link to El Nuevo Herald column in Spanish: Here
My son was invited to a birthday party a couple of weekends ago for one of his friends from middle school. Angelo was turning thirteen, and this party was going to be a big deal. The group of about eight boys were supposed to get dropped off at Angelo’s house by noon on Saturday, and his parents were going to take the kids to their apartment on the beach for a day of fun in the sun. From there they were going to the movies, and then back to the house for pizza and cake. Danny, my son, was looking forward to this party for weeks, and since my wife was going to be taking care of errands that day, I was assigned the task of buying Angelo’s gift and taking Dan to the party. Simple enough, right? Wrong.
That Saturday morning started out leisurely enough but after a couple of trips to the recycling facility and Home Depot, I had lost track of time. Before I knew it, it was 11:30AM, and we were running late. It wasn’t until we were half way to Angelo’s house that I realized I had forgotten to buy his present. Now what? Danny couldn’t show up to a birthday party that he was invited to without a gift – much less for one of his close friends – that would be unacceptable, but at that moment I was clueless as to what to get. Danny, however, knew exactly what Angelo, and every other boy his age, would appreciate – an Xbox Live gift card with 1,600 Microsoft Points! At the time I had no idea what that was, but it was easily available in the gift-card section at any corner pharmacy, and it was $19.99. I bought the gift, Danny gave his friend a great birthday present, and the crisis was averted.
I was reminded of this recent incident as I reflected upon the events of this past weekend – in particular, something I did, or rather, didn’t do, that bothered me. Yesterday, July 4th, we celebrated what is perhaps one of the most important birthdays of the year – the birth of our great nation, the United States of America – yet how many of us, myself included, brought a present to the party? After all, thanks to that day, and to the men who risked their lives to declare independence, we have been blessed. The price of our freedom is high. It has been paid for by the blood and sacrifice of countless men and women from before the American Revolution to present day. In a letter to his wife, John Adams, Founding Father and Signer of the Declaration of Independence, wrote,
“I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure it will cost us to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom I see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth all the means. This is our day of deliverance.”
For some of us – again, myself included – it is perhaps easier to take freedom for granted because it has never been taken from us. For others, like my grandparents who immigrated to this country over a half century ago from Cuba, freedom is as priceless today as it was when it was denied them, and it remains at the forefront of their appreciation. That is why, in an effort to not take freedom for granted, I have decided that it is not too late to bring my present to the party, and have created a list of potential birthday gifts to perpetually celebrate the momentous occasion of our nation’s birth.
- To respect others regardless of race, sex or religion.
- To defend life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Declaration of Independence so eloquently 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. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
- To value and appreciate, take responsibility for, and nurture my family – the most important unit of our great society. Ronald Reagan once said, “All great change in America begins at the dinner table.” I will hand down to my children the love, respect, and appreciation I have for our country the way my parents and grandparents handed it down to me.
- To be an active and responsible collaborator in promoting the wellbeing of our society from the national level to the local community level by exercising my right to vote and becoming involved in my community.
- To always be considerate of the needs of others.
- To always be ready to lend a helping hand.
- To always thank our soldiers who fight for our freedom with their lives.
- To always strive to do my best not only for my own sake, but for the sake of all.
Happy birthday, USA. I wish you many, many more.
