Happy 4th of July!
Originally published at Morbid Romantic. You can comment here or there.
On July 4, 1776, America claimed its Independence from their colonial masters in Britain. Americans of the thirteen colonies fought from 1775 and 1783, the war ending with the signing of the Treaty of Paris; many gave their lives for the hopes of freedom, Democracy, and the pursuit of creating a nation that was our own and not an extension of a power overseas. What began with the first Jamestown settlers in 1607, men like John Smith and Captain Christopher Newport, ended when America won their Revolutionary War. The iconic moment of this era is the signing of the Declaration of Independence on 1776, on July 4th, in which the Fathers of this country put on paper what America was meant to be about. This is why the 4th of July is such an important day to Americans all over the nation.
Regardless of how you feel about the country now (because trust me, I am very angry at my elected leaders right now), at least recognize what Americans have died for on this very soil. Remember the brave soldiers who joined little more than poorly equipped farmer’s militia and fought against the better organized and more modern British army. Don’t forget that men like Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine passionately defended the ideas of republicanism that came to shape what our country is about.
Though not perfect, we have to concede that nothing is. Nothing ever has been. That is why we must keep trying. Unhappy with the government? Get out and VOTE. Register now so that you are ready for the presidential elections. Pay attention to what our candidates are saying. Don’t sit around and ignore all of the campaign information with little interest in voting if all you are going to do is complain about the state of our nation. CHANGE IT. Forget that, “our votes don’t count” crap. That’s pessimism at its finest.
So, as a little gift for everyone:
Feel free to take. It’s a present from morbid-romantic.net to you. With all of my love. <3