It won’t be long before the Fourth of July. Central Florida and East Orlando — and all of America — will celebrate a very special Independence Day.
At Avalon Park, our annual tradition promises to be bigger and better than ever before, with fireworks, a wet and dry bounce house and dozens of community performances all throughout the afternoon and evening.
And we’ll hope for a few costumed Uncle Sams, Betsy Rosses and revolutionary patriots on hand to add to the color and excitement.
Why is this Fourth so important?
Throughout the Middle East, a region where turmoil seems to be a norm, an unusual evolution is taking place. Democracy is breaking out all over. Common ordinary citizens — doctors, students, construction workers, truck drivers, shopkeepers — are standing up to decades-old autocracies to demonstrate their desire to live in peace and freedom.
Here in America, our political polarization seems to seek new heights almost daily, meticulously analyzed by a confrontation-conscious news media.
But at home, at school and on the job, most of us find that most of our friends, family, co-workers and neighbors cherish the same ideals espoused so courageously by some many of those common ordinary citizens in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Bahrain, Yemen, Syria — throughout the Middle East.
We share certain values: That families count most. That our aspirations to improve our lives and the lives of our children rank among the most important endeavors we can undertake. That justice, equality, mutual respect and civil discourse are the principal elements of a peaceful democracy.
Local communities play a key role in helping to reinforce those values by providing for their expression.
On the Fourth of July, that expression will be a joyous one at Avalon Park and in all communities in East Orlando, and you’re invited to join us.