Just a few weeks ago we observed Memorial Day, where we remembered those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. In a few months we will honor all of our military men and women on Veterans Day. Throughout the year there are holidays to give thanks, celebrate the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ, welcome a new year (after partying out the old one), and we even dedicate a day to the Marmota monax, or Groundhog.

But today, Independence Day, is unique. Today we celebrate we. We the people (as the Constitution will declare in 1787). Today we celebrate a cingular idea, “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.”

Those two sentences contain all the reason we need to celebrate.

“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.” All men are created equal, not granted equality by the state, and not positioned in a superior or inferior state by the lottery of their birth. Equality is ours from our birth. It is the equality of potential, the equality of opportunity. It is not equality of results, nor should it be. As we celebrate today we can rejoice in the fact that we have the ability to pursue whatever course we choose in life, not one dictated to us by The State or our station.

“That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” We are endowed by our Creator with certain rights, but it is up to each of us (We) to secure these rights. Of all the ideas and ideals we recognize today, the concept that government derives their powers from the people, and not the other way around, should be paramount.

Here is a Wordle of the Declaration of Independence. Click on the image for a larger view. Notice the prominence of the word people. Today is not a day to celebrate our government, but to celebrate our people. Today is the day to celebrate “We”.

As you gather with family and friends, play games, cook out, watch fireworks, or whatever you do, remember to celebrate your freedom, your potential, your rights. And not just yours, but everyone of our fellow citizens. Have a great Independence Day. Today we celebrate We.

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The celebration of Independence Day spills over, for most, to today. Let me start by quoting from the famous letter of John Adams to his wife, Abigail.

But on the other Hand, the Delay of this Declaration to this Time, has many great Advantages attending it. — The Hopes of Reconciliation, which were fondly entertained by Multitudes of honest and well meaning tho weak and mistaken People, have been gradually and at last totally extinguished. — Time has been given for the whole People, maturely to consider the great Question of Independence and to ripen their judgments, dissipate their Fears, and allure their Hopes, by discussing it in News Papers and Pamphletts, by debating it, in Assemblies, Conventions, Committees of Safety and Inspection, in Town and County Meetings, as well as in private Conversations, so that the whole People in every Colony of the 13, have now adopted it, as their own Act. — This will cement the Union, and avoid those Heats and perhaps Convulsions which might have been occasioned, by such a Declaration Six Months ago.

But the Day is past. The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, 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 Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. — I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. — Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.

Reading that letter again brings this thoughts to mind — that celebrating Independence Day is a celebration of us.

At most July 4th celebrations we take occasion to honor our military. That is a good thing, and something we can never do sufficiently. But unlike Memorial Day and Veterans Day, where we honor those who have given their lives and those who served, and continue to serve, so heroically, Independence Day should include the rest of us. We should honor the men and women of our military, but we should also understand that our continuing freedom depends on every citizen and our dedication to keeping the ideals of liberty and freedom alive.

This idea was expressed in an exchange between Benjamin Franklin and a Mrs. Powel, recorded by Constitution signer James McHenry in a diary entry.

Outside Independence Hall when the Constitutional Convention of 1787 ended, Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?”
With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

And that’s the point. We have to keep it. We have to work, and sweat, and never relent in our effort to “keep it.” It does take effort, and without such effort the tendency will be for our republic to fall into disrepair. To visualize this imagine a car that is kept out of the elements, but never started and never maintained. In very little time it would be useless for transportation. The battery would be dead, the oil virtually useless, and the tires dry-rotted and likely flat. Depending on the amount of time the car is ignored, the effort to restore it could be significant.

We are in danger of leaving our Republic out of the elements, but unmaintained. We can not let that happen.

I hope that you and your loved ones had (and continue to have) a great time celebrating the birth of our country. When you return to work remember to work on keeping our republic as well.

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My Blog Talk Radio Show, Independence Day Warm-Up, is getting ready to start at 11pm EDT. Come join me as we talk about our country and celebrate the USA!

What are your thoughts about America, our history and our future? The call in number is (718) 664-9725 or click on the link above and find the click to talk link if you have a mic hooked up to your computer.

The chat room is about to be opened. See you there.

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It’s a long weekend, so I’m playing around with the theme again. While I’m doing that I’ve broken out this oldie but goodie.

I’m also getting some things ready for tonight’s Independence Day Warm-up.

Finally, for now, an update on this post. When I wrote that two days ago I had 29 cigarettes left. Right now that number is down to one. Even that is quite a reduction in normal consumption. The good news, yeah I know there’s all that health stuff too, is that I haven’t given the state of Florida or the federal government any more money. And I’m not going to.

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You are invited to listen to the next edition of bRight @ Night, Independence Day Warmup, on Blog Talk Radio.

The show starts tomorrow night (7/3/09) at 11pm eastern. We (I’m including you in all of this) will be talking about our nation’s birth, what makes the U.S. great, and where we go from here. It will be a one hour show ending at midnight.

If you want to participate you can go to the show page linked above. If you have a mic hooked up to your computer you can click on the “click to talk” button or call in at (718) 664-9725. The chat room will be open just before the show starts.

See you tomorrow night.

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One of the most vivid memories of my childhood is the celebration of Independence Day. Of course it included a parade. Many years we were participants, waking up early to decorate our bikes with red, white, and blue crepe paper. We would weave it through the spokes and wrap it around the tubes and handle bars. We would make streamers to hang from the hand grips and back of the seat. There were no prizes, but it was a competition none the less. We all wanted to have the best decorated bike in the parade.

The times we didn’t ride in the parade we sat and watched. Bands, floats, fire trucks, and convertibles full of beauty queens and local politicians. And flags.

Most of the units had a flag leading the way. As they passed by we would stand. Always. I don’t remember mom or dad telling us to stand. I believe I learned by just watching. My folks weren’t unique, everyone got out of their lawn chair or off the curb when “Old Glory” made it’s way past their location.

The morning parade was followed by the afternoon picnic. It was a rotating affair hosted by my parents and a group of their friends. One picnic really stands out. My parents were hosting and our neighbor was mowing his yard before they came over. A few guests had already arrived and were hanging around in the back yard talking when the mower next door stopped. Mr. Trimble (the neighbor) had run over a ground wasp nest. The disturbed wasps flew up the leg of his shorts and started to do what mad wasps do. Aware of the guests next door, but not caring about their presence, he quickly dropped trou before running into his house. He was topic number one among the adults when he gingerly showed up later.

While many of the images of Independence Day were the outward trappings of patriotism, there was an underlying sense of pride which is, I believe, at the core of true patriotism.

I hope that you and yours are having a great 4th. More than that I hope you feel the pride of being a part of the greatest country on earth. In the midst of all the politics it’s good to remember that our system of government is like none other in the history of the world. We don’t have to excuse our shortcomings, we have the means and the will to overcome them. We don’t have to shy away from our success, we embrace that success and offer it as a model to people everywhere. We don’t have to hide our patriotism, we should show it on every occasion and embrace it.

Happy 4th of July!

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First Cup Radio will be on the air in just a few minutes (6am Eastern) to help you start you July 4th celebrations. Help me by calling in – (718) 664-9725. Tell me what Independence Day, and this country mean to you.

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Nancy Astor: “If I were your wife, I would put poison in your coffee.”
Sir Winston Churchill: “And if I were your husband, I would drink it.”

Happy 2nd Blogiversary to:
Dr. Sanity!

Captain’s Quarters (Ed Morrissey) Israeli Cabinet Approves Deeper Gaza Incursion, Buffer Zone — “After Hamas fired a longer-range Kassam rocket that hit the city of Ashkelon, the Israeli cabinet has decided to respond to this escalation by pushing the Palestinians farther away. The IDF will deepen their northern incursion into Gaza and start leveling residential structures in their rocket-staging area, intending to set up a permanent buffer zone.”

Iowa Voice (Brian) So How Many Did They Launch? — “We’re quickly getting past the point of no return here. North Korea is already isolated and the international pressure is about as high as it can get, yet he’s not backing down.”

ScrappleFace (Scott Ott) N. Korea Launches Attack Against Sea of Japan — “North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il today acknowledged that he had ordered yesterday’s missile strikes against the Sea of Japan in response to what he called “threatening and provocative movements” that the body of water had made against his nation’s coastline.”

Don Surber Soldiers become citizens — “The Independence Day story of the year is from AP out of Bagram, Afghanistan, where 26 U.S. soldiers from 21 nations became U.S. citizens on the Fourth of July. They took advantage of a 2004 law that speeds up the citizenship process for those in the military.”

Ankle Biting Pundits (Bull Dog Pundit) President Finally Coming To His Senses On Immigration? — “While Karl Rove and Tony Snow say that the President believes any reform should address the status of the 11 million illegals already here one “anonymous source” close to the deliberations predicted the President would abandon the “path to citizenship” (a/k/a “amnesty”)”

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If blogs and bloggers existed in 1776 what would they have written? In a sense, except for the technology, they did exist. Consider the pamphlets of Thomas Paine, the correspondence of Benjamin Franklin and the writing of Thomas Jefferson. One of the keys to selling the idea of independence to colonial America was the written word. The series of Common Sense pamphlets written by Thomas Paine achieved a distribution that would, when adjusted for the change in population, thrill any present day “pamphleteer/blogger”.

I will continue to add to this throughout the day as others choose to participate. There may also be some entries “invented” in the style of the blogs we all enjoy.

Iowa Voice (Brian)

Independence Declared!

Last month, Richard Henry Lee laid a proposal in front of the Second Continental Congress:

Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.

That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.

That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.

After going through several different drafts, the Congress, meeting at the Pennsylvania State House, finally approved what they called the “Declaration of Independence“.

Read the rest of Independence Declared!

TMH’s Bacon Bits (DL)

Could This All Be for Naught?

On this Fouth of July, in the Year of Our Lord Seventeen Hundred and Seventy-six, in a small crowded hall in Philadelphia, a man is thinking to himself.

Do we dare do what we’re thinking? Already we are doomed to die when the King’s men get their scurvy hands on us. This ideal about authority coming from the common man and not from the King is unheard of in history. Who are we to change history? How can we be sure we can even put to the pen those things sufficient to protect us from the curses of government power? It is God’s truth that we need some government, but one we can approve of, one that speaks for us and not for its own power – be it king or tyrant. What faith have we that our side will be loyal to the cause and not betray us for another? What faith have we, that the government we create won’t just dispose of this paper we are about to write — or alter its wisdom beyond its meaning, like a living document — except perhaps for our faith in the muzzles of our guns?

Read the rest of Could This All Be for Naught?

Outside The Beltway (Dr. James Joyner)

Declaration of Independence: A Fisking

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.

Jefferson has buried an obviously untrue assertion after a rather longwinded series of unsubstantiated premises. [And what’s with the capitalization? Is Course a proper noun now?-ed.] Is it really necessary to dissolve our politcal bonds? Really? Does the earth have powers? [And why isn’t “earth” capitalized? Surely, it’s closer to being a proper noun than “course.”-ed.]

Read the rest of Declaration of Independence: A Fisking

Pirate’s Cove (William Teach)

If I Was There……

Matey, great news. Some of thy brightest and most influential people in these 13 Colonies have declared independence from the despotic British rulers. Of course, the Loyalists have taken a dim view of this corporate funded attempt, particularly the tea industry, to break away from the “benevolent occupiers.”

Charles Shumer, a representative of Her Majesty’s Royal Governors, stated “I find it appalling that several unelected business leaders woud take it upon themselves to userp the valid and legal ruling powers bestowed by King Charles. This is clearly a violation of the Separation of Powers.”

John Kerney, a high powered gigilo and husband of a wealthy Boston socialite, stated that he was for independence before he was against it.

Other Loyalists joined the fray, and demanded that the Pennsylvania governor, appointed by King Charles, recount the ballots. There were also claims of ballot tampering, and that the system used was not transparent enough, plus there some had to stand in line to long to sign their name to the so called “Declaration of Independence.”

Read the rest of If I Was There……

T F Stern’s Rantings

Journal Entry, July 4, 1776

It has been established that gatherings to discuss our plight are now outlawed, those attending face grave consequence; loss of property, confinement and even death for uttering seditious words against the Crown. Is it seditious to desire equality of rights from a government which treats some citizens better than others? I ask only for those rights granted to other common men, no more, no less. If this is treason then I am a traitor.

Read the rest of Journal Entry, July 4, 1776

Linked with Mudville Gazette’s Independence Day Open Post

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This post is for the bloggers out there. I’ve sent an email to nearly 50 bloggers and asked them to participate. If I missed you, I would still welcome you to join in the fun. Here is the message I sent:

When I was growing up one of my favorite series of books were “We Were There…” (One that sticks in my mind was, “We were there at Pearl Harbor: Historical consultant: Willard A. Kitts, 3rd (We were there books [15])“) Independence Day is without a doubt our most historical holiday. So, here’s my idea:

It’s July 1776, but there’s one difference — blogs, including yours. What would your post be for July 4th, 1776 not from today’s perspective, but if “you were there”? If you’d like to write a post in your blog’s style I’d like to publish them tomorrow. If you’d like to participate you can either send it as a reply to this email and I’ll add it, or if you want to post it on your blog you can send the link and I’ll reference it that way.

I hope you have fun with this. In any case I wish for you and yours a wonderful Independence Day +230

Send your contribution to lakelandjim at gmail dot com, or just send along a link if you publish something on your blog.

(Thanks, Randal…)

After looking around I found out the book series was We Were There. I have modified the post.

UPDATE AND BUMP: Several bloggers who I invited to participate have linked to this post. In addition to adding them to today’s post, their trackbacks appear below:

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