Every year on the 4th of July, I think about how lucky I am to live in the greatest country in the world. Our country was founded by European immigrants who wanted opportunity without economic suppression or religious persecution. The founding fathers established our country as a place of religious freedom, of separation of church and state, so that everyone could be free to worship in their own way.
Throughout our history, we have had a steady flow of immigrants seeking life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, those unalienable rights guaranteed by the Declaration of Independence, celebrated on this holiday. My grandparents were among those immigrants. They escaped religious persecution and, like most immigrants, worked hard to make a better life for their families.
Betsy Litt
Newtown, CT