Happy Independence Day! It’s quite a wonderful coincidence that my Feel-Good Friday column aligns with a day perfect for celebration and joy! This week has been monumental politically with numerous policy and legal successes for the Trump administration in the United States. If you’ve been cheering for the passage of the major One Big Beautiful Bill, you must be thrilled that President Donald Trump signed it into law today. My sincerest wish is that you are finding some way to celebrate the blessings of freedom and community.

Living in the South, away from a big city and its restrictions, nearly everyone around us is putting on a fireworks display. We’ve decided to stay home, enjoying some wings and beef tips paired with a salad I’m preparing. After sunset, we’ll retreat to our double chaise lounges in the backyard with our three pets, who are thankfully not bothered by the fireworks, sip on a couple of adult beverages, and enjoy the local fireworks show.

God Bless America!

What are your plans for the celebration today? For this Feel-Good Friday, I’ll highlight a few of my favorite posts from X shared by both native and naturalized citizens, showing appreciation for the opportunity to be part of this wonderful nation.

My fellow Chicago-born-and-raised and California transplant, actor, wrestler, and media personality Mr. T (“Rocky III”, The A Team”), is always an inspiration. He loves America and always speaks of God’s hand on his life and on the nation. I really need to get some wardrobe tips from him, as my patriotic wardrobe is a bit sparse. 

Happy Independence Day Everybody! GOD Bless America, The Land that I Love! Now, let Freedom Ring for Juneteenth & July 4th, from the Rooftop of every Village and every Hamlet, from every Mountainside!#July4th #FridayVibes #HappyIndependenceDay pic.twitter.com/dIyaBFVmbl

— Mr. T (@MrT) July 4, 2025

I first discovered Lily Tang Williams when she decimated gun control zealot David Hogg in a debate on Second Amendment rights. Then, when Williams ran in her state of New Hampshire for Congress in 2024, she decimated her carpetbagger Democrat competitor in a debate. Sadly, she did not win, but she’s made her mark and we have not seen the last of her politically or culturally. 

Williams is a proud, naturalized American whose family fled China. What I love about the legal immigrants that I have known in my life is that they understand the gift we have in America and understand fully how quickly it can be stripped if we do not honor, guard, and defend our constitutional liberties.

July 4th celebration in Laramie,WY for our family reunion of 25 people! Happy 249th Birthday, America. I love you and will defend you until I die! pic.twitter.com/fGrwOxwGkb

— Lily Tang Williams (@Lily4Liberty) July 4, 2025

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares is a first-generation American whose mother fled Castro’s Cuba in 1965. Like Lilly Williams, he has a particular lens and viewpoint on freedom and how to defend it. In his role of VA AG, Miyares oversaw the naturalization ceremony for 98 new Americans who hail from 40 different countries.

98 people from 40 countries became Americans at Fort Monroe this morning.

On the 4th of July, there’s no better reminder of what makes this country special than welcoming new Americans to freedom and opportunity.

Happy Birthday, America! 🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/fpDMgbkpSO

— Jason Miyares (@JasonMiyaresVA) July 4, 2025

Rodney Smith is a personal hero who hails from Huntsville, AL. He came here as a legal resident, studied computer science at Alabama A&M, and in 2015, started his “Raising Men Lawn Care Service.” Raising Men mentors young men (and women) by involving them in a 50-Yard Challenge, where they mow lawns for the elderly, disabled, and single moms for free. The story of how the charity started, and his experiences are quite incredible. What’s even more incredible is that in trying to work toward his citizenship, his green card application was first denied. 

Rodney Smith is a Bermudan immigrant in AL with a long record of doing good deeds across the USA, the kind of immigrant any of us would love to have as a fellow citizen, but now is in a legal bind with US immigration. How about some help, legal eagles?https://t.co/HKXoUm1zIW

— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) October 27, 2020

We have murderers, rapists, and all types of cretins who invaded the country and are still slipping through the cracks; but this upstanding, honorable man who is doing nothing but give back, was rejected over a technicality. Through a letter-writing campaign, the families whose children have been changed through Smith’s non-profit and the recipients of the service showed their overwhelming support for Smith and he was able to get over that immigration hurdle. Smith achieved his American citizenship soon after! 

Smith’s birthday is July 4, and he posted this message of gratitude that is really awesome. 

Thankful to see another year .It’s always an honor to share the same birthday with the country I love . Happy 4th of July everyone . Thank you to our brave men & women who have served & currently are serving for your service! Please enjoy the day and most importantly, be safe ! pic.twitter.com/NxYk7j0zFp

— Rodney Smith Jr (@iamrodneysmith) July 4, 2025

If you want to know a little more about his non-profit, give this video a view.

WATCH:

And the final post is from another personal hero. As a Black conservative woman, I have watched former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice for decades. The way this beautiful, accomplished, and articulate woman has handled the ugliness and downright disrespect lodged against her with grace and humor, and how she has allowed it to roll off her back and keeps being her authentic self, has taught me a great deal. Rice’s upbringing in the South and her adherence to conservative principles has also been an eye opener and an inspiration. Some of you may have read my take down of former President Barack Obama and his terrible Independence Day X post. Rice’s X post is the polar opposite and a palate cleanser. It hits all the right notes and reflects what the celebration of this day embodies.

This Fourth of July, let us reflect with gratitude on the extraordinary nation in which we are privileged to live in. The Fourth is not just a celebration of our independence. It is a celebration of the enduring principles that define America: liberty, the rule of law, the… pic.twitter.com/JanHRNmTWc

— Condoleezza Rice (@CondoleezzaRice) July 4, 2025

This Fourth of July, let us reflect with gratitude on the extraordinary nation in which we are privileged to live in. The Fourth is not just a celebration of our independence. It is a celebration of the enduring principles that define America: liberty, the rule of law, the pursuit of happiness, and the courage to strive for a more perfect union. These ideals have guided us through times of trial and triumph alike, and they remain our compass today. Happy birthday, America

Happy Friday, and Happy Independence Day!