It is a tale every American knows that on July 4th, 1776, the United States of America officially ratified its freedom as an independent nation from England via the Declaration of Independence. Since then, every year millions of Americas gather together to celebrate America's birthday, whether it be through barbecues, parades or the ever famous fireworks show.

But the reality is, the meaning of the fourth of July is changing. After all, if you google what it means to be an American, search results yield answers varying across generations on what this answer is, along with varying ideas on what it means to celebrate the country.

Specifically, this concept of Americanism and patriotism is based in other factors of a person's life, such as civic participation, military involvement and community service. Based on a study measuring the most patriotic states, these platforms identify patriotism in that they give individuals a chance to exercise American rights through voting and serving the country whether through military or philanthropic means. Similarly, education plays an important role in patriotism. In particular, the more educated people are, the more likely they are to understand complex components of America such as the economic market and infrastructure; understanding these areas enables people to identify flaws within the system. When these flaws are compared against countries who are better off in these areas, these people's pride for America diminishes. Interestingly, patriotism is typically higher in red states rather than blue states; in many of these same red states, education is incredibly poor, some examples including Idaho, South Carolina and Georgia. Thus, this further cements the link between education and patriotism.

Interestingly, patriotism is on the wane: in 2011, 38 percent of Americans declared they were patriotic, yet by 2014, this number dropped to 28 percent. Yet somehow, regardless of waning nationalism, July Fourth is celebrated like every other holiday. People will indulge in parties, drinking and wearing red, white and blue, even when these parties, drinking and America's colors' deeper symbolism can mean nothing to them. But why? If nationalism has declined by 10 percent, then how is it that we are all celebrating Fourth of July the same way we have every year?

And the answer is justification. We justify partying on July Fourth because it's an annual holiday. We justify drinking because Independence day is a social event for friends and family. We justify wearing red, white and blue because we have a "right" to wear our country's colors.

In reality, these justifications are excuses for us Americans to indulge in privileges our country has granted us; while July Fourth may be intended to mean more than just partying, drinking and wearing specific colors, this is what we choose to do because we can do it. Yet amid these privileges, our pride is still falling, even more so affirmed in that 71 percent of Americans believe that the signers of the Declaration of Independence would be disappointed with the way America is today.

Truly, America has its problems. But consider other countries. Consider North Korea, where thousands die each day from worker camps, starvation and other atrocities all while the country's press must censor the truth. Or consider the women of Afghanistan, who have acid thrown in their faces for simply attending school in a society where education for women is looked down upon and limited. Or even consider a developed nation like China, where suspects are treated guilty until proven innocent. Hence, although America has its own problems, simultaneously, we are a nation marked by privilege. And thus, though I do not necessarily advocate for greater patriotism, nonetheless, we should appreciate what liberties we do have.

Though we may be lacking in many freedoms still yet, we have the basis for basic rights. Perhaps in the future, rather than utilize Independence Day to rationalize partying, drinking and wearing our country's colors, this celebration can be used to aspire for a greater tomorrow, the same way our forefathers aspired. Maybe we can become the change we wish to see in the world if we just work for it yet.