Happy Independence Day America, the land of the free, we salute you.

Happy Independence Day America, the land of the free, we salute you.

Happy Independence Day America, the land of the free, we salute you. Here in dear old Blighty, the British would like to take off our cap and express our whole- hearted appreciation for everything the USA has always represented throughout the centuries. Granted you've got Donald Trump but hey maybe that's a good thing in the greater scheme of things. It needn't be regarded as a complete disaster because I think the Americans love an underdog, a man who, without necessarily charming everybody he meets, still meets a certain criteria, whatever that criteria is.

 Still it could have been a whole lot worse because you could have had Hilary Clinton who was probably the worst of a bad bunch and quite possibly things have worked out for the best. Corruption comes in strange packages and the trouble is that some of us can still smell it. But when all is said and done this is your day of celebration America so get out there, stand proudly in front of the Stars and Stripes, sing the National Anthem and remember that there is a considerable amount to shout about and you've still got those wonderful jam doughnuts and you can still smell the coffee.

So my American friends I think it's time to acknowledge the good things in the American constitution. George Washington certainly knew a thing or two when it came to being one of the founding fathers of the USA. It's hard to believe that several centuries later the Americans could boast a million radio stations, a massive choice of TV channels from all directions and wake up in the morning to that wonderful subway grate that once so amused Marilyn Monroe and then gave us such accomplished singers such as Nat King Cole, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond and Bing Crosby. Truly, America your cup overfloweth.

America is the land of the free, the land of abundance, the land of profusion, Central Park, New York, Los Angeles, California, Chicago and a world of dizzying, bewildering speed, of soaring skyscrapers, hundreds and thousands of cafes and restaurants on every street, road and back street, towering buildings  dominating the American landscape as far as the eye can see. But America we all think you're brilliant because when 9/11 ripped out the heart of the United States you still came through because you're enormously resilient, resourceful, full of character, spirit, heart, fervent belief and a nation that has passionate love of its own country which the world rightly commends.

It would be easy to dwell on the tragic consequences of that fatal day in September 2001 because none could have legislated on quite how unexpected and devastating an incident could reduce one country to such heart wrenching grief. Even 16 years later the world finds it impossible to comprehend the monumental magnitude of the New York catastrophe. Thousands of post mortems and painful analyses later and the world shares your mortification, the indefinable loss. But then there is a  sense that America is standing tall, finding acceptance and closure while never forgetting those horrific images of the Two Towers. But America is recovering, it is getting there, it is stronger than ever before and it will never allow the evil forces of terrorism to tear it in half.

On a much lighter note it must not be forgotten that America is rejoicing in its Independence Day festivities, a day devoted to fun, happiness and barbecues in every neighbourhood, state, city and every garden and park. They'll drape the Star and Stripes from every lamp-post, every door, every rooftop and every street corner. This is because the Americans love a party, love to feel good about themselves and unashamedly trumpets its qualities and virtues. The Americans boogie on down to soul, dance themselves silly, wave their banners of protest from time to time and then cruise down to Hollywood or Las Vegas for an inquisitive peep at its celebrities, the superstars, baseball and American football and basketball  icons.

Here in Britain we just look in stunned wonderment at the sheer vastness of the United States where the sidewalks are twice the size of the ones in Britain. On my first ever family trip to America in 2002 my breath was taken away by the size of everything which seemed to be a thousand times larger than everything Britain could offer.

On that same holiday my wife and our very young kids bounded forward into the fabulous Florida which left me both flabbergasted and speechless. The theme parks are of course legendary but those lunchtime pretzels and chicken legs still leave me with the warmest memories. We all knew about Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, Pluto and all of those smiling cartoon characters who Disney so affectionately bequeathed to us by way of a legacy.

America though is a welcoming, thoroughly friendly country, admirably amiable, the perfect host and so open to radical change. Occasionally we insist that it may be too much for our liking, that the expressions of goodwill and dazzling hospitality have to be toned down. Of course the world will have a nice day and that much became evident on frequent occasions. The bitter cynics though will always do their utmost to run America down and denigrate its every decision but if looked at objectively America does get it right and then gets it wrong but that's the way things are and maybe America would never have it any other way.

 The critics think this is all show, cosmetic, shallow and affected but this is quite clearly not the case because America just loves being America and reminds us of that fact at every opportunity. Here in Britain we are continually amazed and awe stricken at those baseball games where whole families bring their picnics to matches, drinking together, eating together, behaving in the most exemplary fashion and turning the whole occasion into much more than a baseball match. It is America uniting together and feeling good about themselves, of elevating everybody and everything to the highest of heights.

And then there's American football which sadly is beyond me but rest assured this is nothing personal. What I do know is that the Superbowl looks like the British equivalent to our FA Cup Final but this Final takes place at the beginning of February. American football is heavy in the country's symbolism, part of its cultural heartbeat, its silky fabric, its dynamics and the way it presents itself to the outside world.

When America turns its discussion to sport it remembers with overflowing affection its heroes, the personalities who so illuminated its past like those flashing lights in New York. America still fondly harks back to Babe Ruth, Joe D'Maggio, Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali and then turns its gaze back to James Stewart, James Cagney, Gregory Peck, Orson Wells, its endless Presidents throughout the ages, Burt Lancaster and all those rugged, very masculine figures who defined their generation and stuck out their jaws with American pride.

We all have our faults and flaws, foibles and shortcomings and surely America would be the first to admit to those weak points, its vulnerabilities. But America always make you feel as if nothing is too much trouble, that everything is for the long term benefit rather than the detriment. Today is the day when America puffs out its chest, cranks up its sense of patriotism, its extrovert personality, its easily identifiable characteristics and its happy go lucky demeanour.

Sadly most of us still perceive America as the gun culture where murder and crime go hand in hand and every cop show is completely consumed with blood, bullets and ghastly death. But that's what it says in the American constitution and who are we to argue with that. Occasionally we look aghast at the violence and volatility of a world that none of us can quite our heads around. And then we look at American TV and discover the darker and more unsavoury aspects of life. But only briefly because once again they always bring things back to another street carnival or a lively TV chat show. The good life.

At the moment we have Law and Order, CSI and a whole series of criminal and forensic programmes that look as though the whole underbelly of America is being widely exposed and examined for the morbid curiosity of its audience. But maybe this is an agenda that has to be addressed because if we don't talk about it perhaps crime will never go away or indeed be completely eliminated.

Still it's time to say to extend our best wishes to our America friends on this Independence Day because you'll always be our close allies, friends for life and always there for us. For almost the entire first half of  the year Americans seemed to have been gripped by a dialogue so emotionally charged that it could never be understood. There was a very real sense of controversy, of crazy, conflicting confrontation, of frightening turmoil and uncertainty and a new President who didn't seem believable at any time.

But here we are at the beginning of July and Donald Trump is still gesturing, still pouring out his innermost grievances, still expressing views that seem contentious and highly debatable but could be considered as potentially dangerous. But Trump is the President of the United States and when all is said and done this is the undeniable fact and reality.

With that blond, orange hair and that almost permanently smug expression America can only look on from the sidelines and wonder whether it really is happening to them. Trump is here for the duration and never has the social media community achieved such widespread publicity. Trump is Twitter's best friend and if the man needs a better platform then Trump is all over it. In these days of urgent communication Trump seems like the perfect spokesman. Mind you I wonder what Big Daddy would have made of his very ground breaking wrestling antics. My grand-dad would have loved it all. A ONE, er, a Two er. Three falls and a submission Mr Trump.  America we all admire you.