Vierte Juli

Yea for Independence Day! I sometimes forget the value of celebrating the independence of one's country. It's easy to glance at a map and think, "Why of course this country is independent. It has clear borders and boundaries." But what does this independence all mean if we are part of the international community or part of a union of countries. Are we really all that independent? Why is it so important for us to have sovereignty? What makes a country distinct from any other bit of land? Still trying to flesh out nationalism and identity...