Independence Day

Last night, a bunch of Qik team members (and some of their kids and friends) gathered at our HQ to watch the local 4th of July fireworks. They were set off from the park just across the street from our office, over the water, so we had a perfect vantage point from our perch on the 16th floor. Of course, I Qikked it. (But damn, Mike Grehan’s view from the Empire State Building beat ours by a country mile.)

As it happens, I was one of the few people in that room who was born in the US. Most were immigrants, from India, Russia, the Ukraine, and (I think) Japan. Many of the rest of us were first, second or third generation Americans (I didn’t take a poll, but I know that to be true of some of my colleagues).

Today, as much as I despise our government, its offensively intrusive reach and horrifying breadth and scope, I still appreciate the hell out of this place. The US has been very good to my family - I’m third generation American - and there are dozens of reasons I have chosen to live here again.

My feelings about the US are so mixed, but I have no doubt that I was very fortunate to be born in this country, with all of the opportunities it has to offer. I just wish these opportunities were truly open to everyone, regardless of whether or not they won the geographical lottery at birth by being born here.