Freedom Day

Jul 05, 2009 10:36

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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.

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, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

And therefore, 233 years later, it is right and good that we should hang out on rooftops with good friends, drinking a few beers (Sam'l Adams: Brewer, Patriot) and watching colorful explosions.

By the way, fireworks are called "hanabi" in Japan, which is a combination of "hana" (flower) and "hi" (fire). I like that. So, we very much enjoyed the national fireflowers yesterday!
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