Columnists, Opinion
 By  Nathan Strickland Published 
8:00 am Saturday, July 3, 2010

Wow, we are a young country

Soon fuses will be ignited and flashes of light will burst in the night sky with snapping, crackling and popping sounds following closely behind as our nation celebrates its birthday.

There’s no doubt that the land we are walking on is ancient, but we as a nation are only 234 years young.

Yes, I said young because think about it — there were people back in the biblical days that lived to be way older then 234.

I know that it would be a miracle for one person to reach that age now, but between all the wars and depressions no wonder people don’t live as long as they did in the early histories of the Earth.

The great thing about our nation is how advanced we have become in such a short period of time.

Since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we have gone from the “New World” to the most powerful country in the world.

There are a number of officials from all over that consider one man to be the most powerful person on earth and that just so happens to be the leader of our nation — whoever holds the title of The President of the United States of America.

It is hard to admit that wars have been a large part of our history, but as the old saying goes “Freedom is not Free” and that is how we, as a nation, have what we have because we have stood together against those who wanted to control us and take away our freedoms.

Now given that there are some wars like our own Civil War — in which we were divided as a nation — but I believe that every war we have been involved in deals with some sort of fight for freedom in some form or fashion.

My heart goes out to every man, woman or child who has ever put on a military uniform and fought so that I may have a good life here in northwest Alabama where I have lived my whole life safe from tyranny and persecution.

Thank you troops and veterans for all you do and have done and thank you America for being such a wonderful place to live.

There I’ve said my peace. Until next time, Later Dayz…

Also on Franklin County Times
Successful paving plan draws Florence’s interest
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
August 5, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Pondering whether Florenceshouldestablish its own paving department, officials only had to look about 20 miles south to see the benefit...
Mills named principal at West Elementary
Main, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
August 5, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Gayla Mills is beginning her 31st year in education and her first as West Elementary’s principal. Mills taught third grade when that gr...
Disciplinary point system gets ‘amped up’
Main, News, Russellville
By Ella Seaton For the FCT 
August 5, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — As Alabama students head back to school, there is a new incentive for staying out of trouble. This school year, school disciplinary pro...
Wright is new RES principal
Main, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
August 5, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Channing Wright, former Russellville Elementary assistant principal, will begin the new school year in a new role, that of principal. N...
Motorists reminded of bus safety rules
Franklin County, News
By Ella Seaton For the FCT 
August 5, 2026
As school buses begin returning to roads across northwest Alabama this week, transportation officials remind parents, students and motorists the impor...
Data center moratoriums are right for Alabama
Columnists, News, Opinion
August 5, 2026
Apparently, asking questions and raising community concerns now makes you a socialist. At least that’s what you’d believe if you listened to some of t...
RC&D continues making a difference
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
August 5, 2026
I’ve seen firsthand the difference the Northwest Alabama Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D) can make. One reason I continue to appre...
Wallace returns home to serve at WES
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
August 5, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Russellville native Jacob Wallace has returned to West Elementary School, this time as assistant principal. A member of the Russellvill...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *