Most of the time, being British in the United States is riddled with perks. Americans love our accent, routinely ask if we are friends with King Charles, and assume that our intelligence, honesty, and wit is unrivaled—a view debunked by the mere existence of John Oliver.
But every year, as July 4th approaches, we become the target of some good-natured banter, as Americans offer their condolences as if we see Independence Day is a day of sorrow, laud their forefather’s victory over the British Empire in the late 18th century, or cut to the chase by simply shouting “America!”
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There’s just one issue: Independence Day is a day I celebrate for many reasons, least of all being the defeat of the German mad king, George III.
As someone who chooses to live in the United States of America, the idea that I would want it to remain part of the United Kingdom is absurd. I moved to this country almost 12 years ago to embrace what is still the land of opportunity, not to import Britain to American shores, while the widespread availability of air conditioning, automatic transmissions and free refills is an added bonus. Also, paying at the gas pump! The ultimate time saver.
Of course, that’s not to say I don’t still love many elements of Britain—most relating in some way or another to chocolate—but rather that for me, America is simply better.
Why is it better? Well, because of the values that make the United States of America what it is: freedom, equality, opportunity, and responsibility. If it weren’t for the victory of the American revolutionists, these values would never have been carved into the foundation of the world’s greatest superpower that—to this day—leads the world.
It’s easy to take the United States for granted—especially if you were born here. But for someone like me, who chose to live here, the miracle of America is impossible to ignore. It wasn’t just that a scrappy band of rebels defied the greatest empire in the world and established a republic rooted in individual liberty and religious freedom. It’s that it represented a turning point for all of humanity. And not only that, it represented the only system of government that acknowledges the flaws of the human heart: an idea just as revolutionary as the violent uprising against the British monarchy.
Yes, I’m British, but I live in America for a reason. I didn’t come here to apologize for its history or pretend it’s just another country in a morally gray mush of globalism. I came here because America is different. Because America stands for something. Because America is the best.
We all owe a debt of gratitude to the American revolutionaries who said “no” to an empire. Thanks to them, the world has a beacon—sometimes flickering, but never fully extinguished—of what human freedom can look like. So no, I’m not mourning the Fourth of July. I’m flying the flag even higher, because I’m grateful to be here. God bless America, and Happy Independence Day.
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Author: Ian Haworth
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