Today’s post is going to be short. In the States it’s a holiday, and I don’t expect to be online much, if at all. Every July 4th, America celebrates her independence with parades, cookouts, and an abundance of fireworks. Flags fly proudly from neighborhood porches, the spirit one of festivity. If the weather is good, I’ll be enjoying my pool, then waiting for the sky to light up in bursts of color at night. I’ve tacked on a few days of vacation at the end of the week to make for a nice long holiday.

But July 4^th isn’t just fireworks and hotdogs. I’m a fan of history and have devoted hours of reading to the founding of my country and the men who brought America her freedom. I’ve visited historical sites and battlefields in an effort to learn more about them. I’ve stood on the bridge between Lexington…