It’s July 4th — the day that Americans celebrate one of the (arguably) boldest moves in human history.  And yet, I find it hard to celebrate this year.  The world is a mess; stories of persecuted peoples from around the globe seem to go unnoticed in the mainstream consciousness of our nation and of the West.

Just today, I saw an image from Kathmandu of a Nepali police officer preparing to beat a Buddhist monk, as that country (in a full-out kowtow to China) cracks down on its Tibetan refugee population.

And yet, a Tweet earlier this afternoon from Ethan Nichtern attempts to put it all in perspective:

I will gather with friends and family tonight, like million of Americans, to watch fireworks and celebrate my “freedom,” though I know that there is so much still to be done.  For me, for America, for refugee communities like the Tibetans, and for the rest of the world.

Om mani padme hung.