Every year, when I watch the July 4th fireworks in the US, I think of one thing: Freedom and what it has meant to me. The fireworks at Disneyland in California was excellent when I visited in 2001. It was all about democacy and freedom.

A similar freedom is given to me by open source software - be it linux, be it Open Office, be it JBoss. Free of licensing costs - free of closed source. Just as democracy may have some issues, open source may have issues - but in the long run, they both signify the same - FREEDOM.