Happy 237th birthday, America.

It’s a day of celebration. Parades. Fireworks. Family time beside campfires and grills.

Let’s not lose sight of why America celebrates Independence Day. It is a day for Americans to observe the liberties we won in 1776. We went from being a colony in a monarchy to an experiment in democracy. This experiment, it turns out, has been rather successful. The United States remains the world’s oldest democracy, a nation where the people elect their leaders. We are a free country.

Here are some of our liberties, among many:

• Taxation with representation.

• Freedom of expression.

• Freedom of religion.

• Freedom to assemble.

• Right to contact the government.

• Right to bear arms.

• Right of legal, lawful citizens 18 years or older to vote.

• Right to a speedy and public trial.

• Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures.

• Right to face one’s accuser in court.

• Right to a jury of one’s peers.

• Protection against self-incrimination.

• Ban on double jeopardy.

• Ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

• Right to an attorney.

• Mandatory compensation for land taken for public use.

• Right to equal protection under the law.

• Right to own property.

• Freedom to travel within the country.

• Freedom to marry and raise a family.

• Right to a public education.

• Freedom to attempt to work in an industry or place.

• Freedom to join a group, party, union or organization.

And though it could be argued that each of these freedoms have seen instances of injustices, for the most part, we remain a free country. We are a liberated people. Let’s be glad for that on this Fourth of July.