Boom!

I love my children. That is not to say that my children do not often annoy, perplex, enrage, or disappoint me. I try to remember that it is my job to help guide them to be better, to realize their best aspirations, to fix the problems their failures cause, and generally to grow up to be strong and compassionate. Parental love should be unconditional, but it can't be wholly uncritical. I suppose, in this sense, we are all the mothers and fathers of our country. Move over, George Washington.

Happy Birthday, Declaration of Independence. We're still a work in progress, all of us, including America.