As most of the world knows, earlier this week, July 4, the United States  celebrated its Independence Day.  It commemorated the day in 1776 that the gathered colonists announced that the thirteen colonies would henceforth be free of the British crown.

    American writer Mark Twain once observed, "Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it."  As we read of the continuing crackdowns on individual rights in too many other parts of the world, including, I might add, the U.S., we have new reason to consider the wisdom of Twain's assertion.

    As many have said, freedom is only as free as we want it to be.