Happy July 4th to all here!
In the course of celebration, politicians and pundits will repeat the much quoted "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Yet this is merely an echo of what philosopher John Locke said in the previous century.
What people tend to miss is the most truly revolutionary statement in the Declaration:
"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it...
That statement shook the foundations of Europe's establishment, and laid down a marker for the people's right to revolution!
As you celebrate the Glorious Fourth, remember that right, and all who have sacrificed to defend it for you.
Revolution is thick in the air.
Someone is knocking at the door, someone is ringing the bell - bolt the latch and tell 'em to go away!
Yes, Happy Birthday America and wishing everyone a safe and healthy 4th, on this 231 years after the signing.
May we all pray for peace in the world and a stop to terroristic threats.
Our Founding Fathers exhibited wisdom, courage and strength. I wish today's politician's had 10% of what our Founders had. For a good read about our early leaders: Founding Fathers!
Happy 4th and thanks to all of you who served our nation in time of war or peace.
Jim
May God continue to bless America...............and may He continue to be patient with us as we stray from what our founders intended America to be.
Stan
Birthday greetings as well from a northern neighbour whose country lost six soldiers in Afghanistan today; per capita, 60 Americans. We're told they die for our freedoms. I wish I knew.
Birthday greetings as well from a northern neighbour whose country lost six soldiers in Afghanistan today; per capita, 60 Americans. We're told they die for our freedoms. I wish I knew.
Canada, so far, has been lucky to have been passed over by the terrorism militant Islamists have inflicted on the US, UK, France, Spain, Indonesia and many other places in the world. For the sake of you and your countrymen, Mr. Brown, I hope the day never comes when Canadians learn first-hand why their troops are dying for their freedoms in Afghanistan.
Shot a fireworks show (no shells larger than 8") for a small town last night and then street in front of the saloon filled with locals shooting consumer fireworks till midnight.
Happy Birthday USA!
A day for quiet reflection upon a republic that is corrupt beyond repair... whatever your political leaning. I never thought it would rot this fast. The founding fathers would be dismayed indeed.
jack, here as there, a majority has doubts about the sacrifices because of the inevitability our countries pulling out without, as they promised, getting the job done. Are they sacrifices for our freedoms then? I wish I knew.
Canadians need not learn from Americans the cost of war.
A day for quiet reflection upon a republic that is corrupt beyond repair... whatever your political leaning. I never thought it would rot this fast. The founding fathers would be dismayed indeed.
Lady Liberty is a beautiful old gal, but she is starting to show her age. When rot from within is continually allowed to fester, she may as well be wearing a Gilligan's hat and teva sandals.
I'm sad to see so much defeatism and whining here about rot, etc.
We're still a country where individuals can - and do - make a difference. I don't know of a single public service outfit, community organization, or political party that isn't eager to welcome volunteers. If something is bothering you, there are plenty of opportunities to get off your duff, pitch in and do something about it. That's what they did back in 1776.
The only real problem with America nowadays is that we do too much bellyaching about "them" - "they" are us.
No defeatism here Jack, the revolution has started with the bang - the people have spoken - no amnesty for illegals.
Doesn't get any better than that!
The boys on the hill listened for once.
The Star-Spangled Banner
—Francis Scott Key, 1814
O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O thus be it ever when free-men shall stand
Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Chuck, it is nice to read the words to the Star Spangled Banner, unfortunately it seems that no one in school now really cares.
There is no prayer and half the time the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, most can't stay still long enough or do it right. Just look at television when a game comes on, and when they scan the stands, it sickening, most don't remove their hats or even stand.
On another note, I was sent an email from someone that had a picture of a school in Calif. where the Mexicans had taken our flag down, put theirs on top and then put OUR flag upside down. Probably half aren't even citizens. Carlos Mencia had it right, you want to be a citizen, serve in the Armed Forces first. Whether he meant it or not it sounds good to me.
Thanks. I celebrate on July 14th. Man, it's red, white, and blue day all the way!
I do not weep for the USA or Canada. We both will survive well enough. Conflict always brings out the doubters and the the fearful. We need them to watch our flanks. Level heads can prevail if they have support. Our response to the terrorists may not be the best but it is a response and it is making a difference. How many attacks have we had on our soil since we opened fire? Good men are dieing and I grieve for them and their families. They are doing a nasty job and deserve and need our support. The extreemists thought they could destabilize us. They have not succeded but they have divided us into the isolationists and the realists.
I say, may the realists win! I don't see that we are given a choise. David