The Fourth of July is an important and festive holiday celebrated throughout the nation with parades and picnics. Flags fly proudly marking the day that stands for America's independence and freedom. "God bless America" is heard everywhere.

July 4 is also a family day. We congregate at parks and beaches wearing red, white and blue, and share all-American foods like hot dogs and hamburgers. As evening sets in, we move to areas where we can watch fireworks. It is a day full of tradition and pride in our country.

Americans living abroad also celebrate July 4. My sister, living in the Netherlands with her family, will pick up American food and decorations from the local military base so they can all feel a connection to home on this special day. Twenty years ago my family celebrated July 4 on the lawn of the American Embassy in Dublin, Ireland. It was such a treat. We drank Dr. Pepper and ate real American hot dogs. We loved living in Ireland and enjoyed the local food but that taste of home on July 4 was magic.

This year, I wonder what impressions our children will be left with as they return home from the parties and fireworks displays. Surely they will have heard "God Bless America" and they will have felt the great sense of patriotism the day inspires. But will they infer that God is blessing only America?

Sometimes, "God Bless America" is followed by words that minimize other cultures and religions. A strong sense of national pride is important and we all pray for God's blessings upon our land, but it is also important that our children have a sense of being world citizens as well as American citizens. How about "God bless us all" as well as "God bless America"?

We are living in the midst of chaos across the world, especially in Iraq. Young men and women are living and dying far from home and their families. That those for or against this war feel no fear in speaking their minds is a good thing; it is the very thing we celebrate this weekend. However, as adults discuss and argue the current conditions in Iraq and our government's policies on how to handle the situation, they must be aware that children are listening.

In the past few weeks, our children have seen and heard news about beheadings and bombs. They are aware that trouble brews abroad and at home. They can feel the tension. They see and hear mom and dad, or grandma and grandpa, shaking their heads and talking about the nearly unbelievable events that are taking place, and it causes them to worry.

We need to reassure children that they are safe and that their government is working to make things better, but we also have to help them pray for the people in other countries who are living with the bombs outside their doors. We have to help them understand that the moms and dads and children in other countries want to live regular lives, too, and it is a relatively few people in these places that cause violence and trouble.

Children need to know that different customs are good, and that how one country lives and prepares food and worships is not inferior to what we do in America, just different. We have a responsibility to teach our children to be good citizens of the whole world as well as good American citizens --- and that means that we, the adults have to respect that which is different.

Eventually, and hopefully soon, there has to be a generation of leaders who are responsible and willing to address the use of violent measures to achieve … whatever they're trying to achieve. Maybe this July 4, amidst their families celebrations and discussions, the children will hear things that will prompt them to be part of that generation willing to take that responsibility.

Anne Hansen is a parent education consultant and a parishioner at Blessed Junípero Serra Church, Camarillo. Her e-mail address is familymail@aol.com.