We are Americans. Me, simply by birth and Caesar by choice since age 25. These last few weeks we’ve enjoyed both the natural and engineered beauty of Italy. We traveled as Italians, on their roads, their public transit and ate in their restaurants and slept in their homes. Many things are different but the one uniting force and I think it may be for all people is their desire for liberty. Liberty to pursue one’s dreams and ambitions without the shackles of an oppressive government, within a society that allows the individual autonomy over their body, their thoughts, their pursuit of a lifestyle. There are towns of a few hundred people where hundreds of young men died fighting for this. The monuments list the names of the dead from the great wars and often there are several brothers listed. An entire generation gone in the pursuit of liberty. I am of the opinion that the United States of America was the inspiration to these people. They saw what George Washington’s Great Experiment produced and wanted it for their own. Some, unwilling to wait, like my own grandparents, left Italy for the unlimited opportunity they saw in America. If you judge their decision by their ancestors, they were successful. So, with these thoughts on the 4th of July, from the distance of a continent, I encourage all of us Americans, whatever your political persuasions, to judge every word, every action of our government and its representatives, by asking the question, “does it preserve liberty for all”? Does it, in the words of our first president “promote human happiness”. Enjoy a hot dog for me, I always miss them the most when traveling. 
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