Let Freedom Ring...

It's Fourth of July week here in the United States.

Hmmm. Just checking in to see how it feels...

I am spending this one in Salt Lake City, Utah and I spent some of the weekend repeatedly skiing down to the base of a snow covered mountain. All in summer attire.

Snowbird Resort
Salt Lake City, Utah

Yes, the lifts were still running on Monday and I am glad I had the opportunity to fling myself down an entirely unfamiliar hill in an entirely unfamiliar place on the 1st of July, on snow no less!

It was slushy and muddy at times. Hiking and a respectable ice rash (from a less than ideal path to the bottom) were also involved and still, it was a blast.

Being in the rather homogenized state of Utah, I am fairly certain that I was the only brown person on the mountain that day. (Here little tow headed children stop and stare, mesmerized by brown folks mere existence. Having no attached meaning to the novelty they are experiencing, their simple curiosity is endearing, at the very least.)

I was also participating in what my Caucasian friend Blaine labels a 'honkie (in this case read that, rich White people) activity.' The other sports that would qualify, I can only imagine, are tennis, golf, croquet and polo. 

Here I must point out that being a US citizen since birth, and having been a skier more years of my life than not, apparently everything I am into could qualify. Somehow or another, whenever my life involves the public, it appears there are always rich White people there too.

Point?

Here I am on a 'holiday' centered round the power of Independence and Freedom and I've got to wonder how much Freedom we actually allow ourselves to enjoy.

I am 'free' enough to be sitting here early in the morning considering whether the demographics of the snow sport playing population (or the entire nation in which I live) is or is not to my liking! Whether I am or am not acceptable among their ranks!?!

With all the other potential 'injustices' of the world, the threats against 'Freedom,' is this really the sort of thing I want to concern my being with?

Check out this video before I answer:

Joe Rogan - The American War Machine

No, it really isn't.

I also will not spend my freedom angry and indignant with the innumerable distractions that political issues provide.

Instead, I choose to use my Freedom to open my eyes, open my mind, open my ears and open my every lovin' heart and feel.

I have the power to be Free from the whole damn thing.

This way I can Love it all. Everybody, Everywhere, including myself.