The crack in the Liberty Bell seems a little more flawed these days
You know, the years spent on this life’s highway have brought about many changes.
This once young Dargan Boy himself is gaining a little age as the sands of the hour glass continue to fall.
I recently had a regularly scheduled stress test with my heart doctor, and friends they look forward to seeing me as I always bring them a dozen Burkholder doughnuts.
They have discovered that those apple-, cherry- and lemon-filled treats and bear paws are something pretty special with a hot cup of java.
After navigating the treadmill for a bit, my breathing becomes labored, but now that first cup of coffee and tiny particle of sweetness awaits me at the finish line.
As I get off the exercise machine, I asked my doctor how many other patients with a 30-year-old artificial hip, two artificials knees, two heart stents and a hernia do on his exercise machine. The doctor responds, “Mr. Waters, you’re in a league of your own."
As I think further about my own stress test and this 4th of July, I’m thinking our country, too, must be in that same league.
Over the years I’ve seen a few changes with life and history that seems to be carrying our wellbeing and luggage in far different directions.
In July 1776, those early states became "free and independent" and "absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown."
Our young nation was now free, and John Adams announced that this moment in history should be celebrated each year to be recognized by "succeeding generations as a great anniversary festival.’
Dargan would come alive on each July 4th as folk celebrated with gusto, libation and fireworks galore. And if you lit the short fuse of those cherry bombs, you better be tossing it pretty quick.
July 4th was always a special time to remember and party. There is something about freedom that tends to percolate one’s blood to celebrate.
But 1776 today seems so far away in the rearview mirror. I doubt seriously if Adams and the other Founding Fathers, if still living, would recognize the results of their early labors. So much has happened, and even Uncle Sam now has a white beard.
And perhaps that stress test of life for our country is equally difficult.
If you travel to Philadelphia today, you can see that large bell of freedom which once hung in the State House in Philadelphia.
The inscription on the bell reads, "Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof."
As I had the opportunity to visit Philadelphia with my wife many years ago, it was something to stand near that bell and hear that story of freedom and how it must have sounded in the very early stage of its birth.
Noticeable on the bell is a large crack in its side that has been there for some time.
Perhaps that too is a reminder on how one will age when traveling down this road of life. There are cracks that will make a seemingly perfect and young body begin to deteriorate.
Our country for certain in the pages of history will be known as being in a league of its own. From that seed of freedom on this shore, we have aspired to be "great," but those falling sand particles in that hour glass seem to be taking a toll on each advancing July 4th celebration.
The fireworks are still beautiful; they make a celebratory sound. But it is the memory that is celebrated more today of those sacrifices made yesterday.
And what of tomorrow?
Our country has faced many problems along this path, seemingly insurmountable problems, and our nation has confronted them and persevered.
I feel like I have confronted many of life’s difficulties myself and survived.
But there are more problems on the horizon, and the world is a changed place since 1776.
Our friends in politics seem to be growing further apart, with attacks on each other’s political party while the business of the land is pushed down on the "to-do" list.
And it seems that wish of John Adams to party and celebrate on July 4th these days doesn't exactly have the same enthusiasm as it once did.
The world too is a much more dangerous place, with the thoughts of nuclear bombs, artificial intelligence, climate change and so many other troubling factors.
I still want to very much celebrate our country’s freedom.
But I’m still remembering, down here in South County, that crack in the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia.
It seems a bit more flawed these days.
Pete Waters is a Sharpsburg resident who writes for The Herald-Mail.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: America has confronted problems and persevered. Can it still?