We the People
Y'know... it's a little-known fact that July 2nd was almost the grand day. John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail:
The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.
Turns out, it took another couple of days of political wrangling for the Continental Congress to adopt, ratify and sign the resolution... Even the grandest governmental achievements always move no faster than the speed of Government. Even, back then.
And, if you take the time to check the history of the fifty-six Signers of the The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America (there are even a few books), you will discover that many of them came to hardship for having dared to defy an empire, believing themselves free to pursue their own destiny, as free Men. (And when I say "Men", I mean men, women, white, black, yellow, red and brown... though we still have problems with this part, oddly enough!)
Last night, while blowing things up, setting the night sky alight in fire and glory, to the delight of my daughters, Pipes and myself, I began thinking about what Independence Day should mean to we Americans... Above and beyond being a day to indulge our inner pyro, that is.
It should carry the lesson: Stick to your guns. Choose what you think is right! And its personal cost to you should not prevent you from what you know, in your heart of hearts, is just and good and right. We may each even have different ideas of what those things are. But pick your cause. Know your material intimately. Stand FOR something. (Not just against the ideas of others)
It should carry the lesson that the very concept of the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were once a very new thing. Now they are not new, but they seem to have become mired in the day-to-day ho hum of our existence. We're a nation of couch-potatoes, and we're no happier for it! We should be "pursuing happiness"! Or else, what have our fathers, grandfathers -- and now, our friends and brothers -- all died and suffered and sacrificed for?
We should be using our liberties to the maximum we can. We should be defending those liberties for each other, and for even LESS fortunate individuals in other lands. Everyone deserves these rights, not just Americans. Even our enemies. Even those sitting in our own prisons.
Each of us holds the most important governmental job in the land: We are all Citizens. We should all be prepared to stand on our records, just like any politician we would size up for the office of President.
For if we fail in our offices as Citizens... then this Nation shall surely have lost its leadership. Is that what is wrong with this country today? Perhaps the problem isn't the Politicans; it is the People.
We the People.
We have come to esteem our Liberty too lightly. and are feeling the consequences of that. We are the only ones with the power to set the wrongs right.
We the People.
The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.
Turns out, it took another couple of days of political wrangling for the Continental Congress to adopt, ratify and sign the resolution... Even the grandest governmental achievements always move no faster than the speed of Government. Even, back then.
And, if you take the time to check the history of the fifty-six Signers of the The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America (there are even a few books), you will discover that many of them came to hardship for having dared to defy an empire, believing themselves free to pursue their own destiny, as free Men. (And when I say "Men", I mean men, women, white, black, yellow, red and brown... though we still have problems with this part, oddly enough!)
Last night, while blowing things up, setting the night sky alight in fire and glory, to the delight of my daughters, Pipes and myself, I began thinking about what Independence Day should mean to we Americans... Above and beyond being a day to indulge our inner pyro, that is.
It should carry the lesson: Stick to your guns. Choose what you think is right! And its personal cost to you should not prevent you from what you know, in your heart of hearts, is just and good and right. We may each even have different ideas of what those things are. But pick your cause. Know your material intimately. Stand FOR something. (Not just against the ideas of others)
It should carry the lesson that the very concept of the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were once a very new thing. Now they are not new, but they seem to have become mired in the day-to-day ho hum of our existence. We're a nation of couch-potatoes, and we're no happier for it! We should be "pursuing happiness"! Or else, what have our fathers, grandfathers -- and now, our friends and brothers -- all died and suffered and sacrificed for?
We should be using our liberties to the maximum we can. We should be defending those liberties for each other, and for even LESS fortunate individuals in other lands. Everyone deserves these rights, not just Americans. Even our enemies. Even those sitting in our own prisons.
Each of us holds the most important governmental job in the land: We are all Citizens. We should all be prepared to stand on our records, just like any politician we would size up for the office of President.
For if we fail in our offices as Citizens... then this Nation shall surely have lost its leadership. Is that what is wrong with this country today? Perhaps the problem isn't the Politicans; it is the People.
We the People.
We have come to esteem our Liberty too lightly. and are feeling the consequences of that. We are the only ones with the power to set the wrongs right.
We the People.