How America Strutted Its Stuff on Independence Day

Let's face it: Every Fourth of July, the United States loves to proclaim to the world that we are a free nation with liberty and justice for all. Nowhere else on the planet is July 4 celebrated with fireworks, patriotic music and barbecues. While the rest of the world works, our Independence Day is a day off to tell the rest of the world that America is great.

In 2011, there were particular events around the world that supported the fact that America is allowed to be dominant on its national holiday on the anniversary of our independence.

Presidential Candidates

On this most important of American holidays, many presidential candidates were out showing how they are patriotic. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) was in Iowa rubbing elbows with conservatives. Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman were in the same parade in New Hampshire, also a key state for early elections. Herman Cain took in a minor league baseball game in New Hampshire to let his name be known to fans.

Even if Washington, D.C., was shut down for the day and everyone was out enjoying a parade, candidates for the highest office in the land were busy trying to convince us to vote for them. The first primary election is still seven months away and the GOP candidates are already lining up suitors to vote.

Fireworks

Think of the juxtaposition of Americans shooting off fireworks for the Fourth of July. We can't shoot off cannons because that's too dangerous. So what do we do? We light fireworks, invented in China and probably made in China, to celebrate America's independence.

Yet we are heartily and readily dependent upon Chinese goods to fuel our economy. The Chinese government also buys a lot of American debt . Thanks to a huge trade imbalance with China due to its cheap labor and massive amounts of factories, Americans are forever dependent upon a Communist country for their salvation, according to Forbes.

Nathan's Hot Dogs

For years, very tiny Japanese men would stuff themselves full of hot dogs at Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs on Coney Island in New York City. In 2011, American Joey Chestnut took home his fifth eating title in a row by downing 62 hot dogs. Time Magazine reports his closest competitor ate 55. Chestnut, known as "Jaws," took home $10,000 for just 10 minutes of work. Only in America is competitive eating a spectator (and lucrative) sport.

Tour de France

In the land of snobbery and eight-course meals, Tyler Farrar became the first American to win a stage the 2011 Tour de France. In the race for Stage 3, one of the best sprinters in the world showed why he's a top American cyclist, according to the Associated Press. He isn't in the overall lead of the Tour de France, but on America's day Farrar was superb.

Baseball

Major League Baseball took advantage of the day off to encourage Americans to part ways with their money in ballparks all over the country. There's no soccer in these stadiums, just 10 men on the diamond playing a time-honored tradition that started 150 years ago. When two other sports leagues are in in labor limbo, it's nice to see America's pastime still has what it takes to wow its fans.

Happy Fourth of July, the day when nothing else mattered in the United States except realizing we are the greatest nation on earth. Pass me a hot dog.

William Browning is a research librarian specializing in U.S. politics. Born in St. Louis, Browning is active in local politics and served as a campaign volunteer for President Barack Obama and Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill.