The 4th of July weekend. A time when we gather we family and friends to celebrate American independence. American greatness. And all things American.

Then there's those anti-American Americans with a guilt complex who feel the undying need to apologize for American greatness. Yes, our leftist friends have decided we've got things all wrong. Over at Vox.com, there's a headline which screams, "3 Reasons the American Revolution Was a Mistake."

Idiot, you say. No one reads Vox anyway, you say.

Problem. This nonsense has already been shared on Facebook over 12,000 times. (That's 12,000 times too many, by the way.)

The article itself claims that if we'd stayed with England, slavery would have been abolished earlier, the Native Americans would have been better off, and states that government via monarchy with a parliament is superior to that of a president with a legislature.

So here's the deal. It's true, England did abolish slavery before the United States did. They've got us on that one. But as for everything else... not so much.

Sure, there were settlers who did despicable things to the Native tribes. The Native tribes also did horrific things to the settlers. That said, they also taught us how to farm, and we taught them about houses and clothes and stuff... not to mention the brutality of English colonization throughout the world... which makes that point null and void.

And no, we're not even going to touch on the monarchy thing because that's just stupid. Yes, STUPID.

Instead, let's give you 15 reasons why the American Revolution was the best thing that ever happened to the world, shall we?

1. It established a haven for religious freedom. Oppressed men, women, and children from all around the globe flocked to our shores to worship the god they pleased in the manner they desired to... and no one was going to stop them, kill them, or force them to convert.

2. It created a democratic republic. For the first time in modern history, the average citizen had a voice in his own government. And it's worked out pretty well for us.

3. It recognized that mankind is endowed with certain unalienable rights by their Creator. Government doesn't give us our rights, our very existence does. Yes, America, we were the ones who put that in writing and created a standard for human rights unparalleled by any other governmental system.

4. It ended tyranny. No more would a people be governed by a single man, woman, or family. Three separate yet equal branches of government were established to ensure justice and domestic tranquility.

5. It brought with it a Bill of Rights. America today is the most free nation on earth because we have the right to say what we will, assemble where we will, defend ourselves as we will, and so on - these liberties are often threatened, yet they remain our own.

6. It gave us some of the greatest governing charters in the world. From the Mayflower Compact to the Declaration of Independence, the United States from its inception created a blueprint which other nations have aspired to duplicate.

7. It gave mankind a haven for pursuing happiness. Life in America is good. The US has more self-made millionaires and billionaires proportionally than anywhere else in the world. And by global standards, America's middle class is really, really rich. Our standard of living is second to none. Period.

8. It created a land of opportunity. Success or failure in America is dependent on an individual's own work ethic. We rise and fall on our own. If you can dream it, you can do it.

9. It birthed a land of virtue and ideals. Like it or not, the United States was founded on Biblical principles. Those principles embedded in our framework a standard of decency and decorum rarely found elsewhere.

10. It brought unparalleled innovation and technology to the world. Who built the first automobile? Who invented the airplane? Who put a man on the moon? Who created your iPhone? 'Merica.

11. It gave the world the best in entertainment. Maybe Pride and Prejudice and British soap operas are your thing. But in case you haven't noticed, all the best shows are Made in the USA.

12. It brought baseball and football to mankind. Our basketball and hockey teams are pretty epic, too.

13. It set the standard for modern, civilized societies. Travel the world. You'll find America has the best cities, the best stores, and the greatest communities on the globe.

14. It made cultural diversity a reality. “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” Unlike any other country on the planet, the USA is a nation of immigrants. People from all backgrounds and faiths live here together, united.

15. It's about freedom. America is synonymous with liberty. And without the Revolution, that wouldn't have been possible.

What do YOU most love about America? Sound off in the comments below!

by Krystal Heath, follow her on Twitter