Sunday, July 04, 2010

Independence Day

Today, is Independence Day, not, the 4th of July, though Independence Day does happen to fall on July 4.

While walking the critter early this morning, I passed only one other individual on the street, I said to them “Good Morning, and Happy Independence Day.”  In response, the individual said to me, “Oh, that’s right, it is Independence Day,” and continued on their way.  This cavalier attitude, to arguably the most important day in all of history and mankind, goes a long way towards explaining why you read the following in regards to Independence Day at History.com.

A Modern Holiday

With the rise of leisure, the Fourth also emerged as a major midsummer holiday. The prevalence of heavy drinking and the many injuries caused by setting off fireworks prompted reformers of the late 19th and the early 20th century to mount a Safe and Sane Fourth of July movement. During the later 20th century, although it remained a national holiday marked by parades, concerts of patriotic music and fireworks displays, Independence Day declined in importance as a venue for politics. It remains a potent symbol of national power and of specifically American qualities—even the freedom to stay at home and barbecue.

I hardly think that Independence Day remains “a potent symbol of national power and of specifically American qualitities,” unfortunately.

It seems appropriate, based on the above observation, that individuals should thoroughly re-familiarize themselves with The Declaration of Independence on Independence Day, particularly, in my opinion, this portion of the declaration, and, more specifically, the words which I have highlighted in bold.

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. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, IT IS THEIR DUTY, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

Though many adult individuals may have a cavalier attitude towards Independence Day, and patriotism, some parents are still attempting to instill in their children a love of America, the “camouflage people” who make up America’s military, and the flag.

Sweet Daughter started drawing flag pictures around Memorial Day. We had done our best to explain how Memorial Day was to honor those people in uniform that keep us safe here in the United States. (We left out the part about honoring the ones that died. She’s four, and we figure five is old enough to introduce that buzzkill.) She remembered the “camouflage people” from our event at Petersburg in April, and she knows that there is evil in the world. In her case it takes the form of the Big, Bad Wolf in her dreams, but she understands that there are bad guys around and that special people exist to help keep her safe from them. Whether it’s a soldier, policeman or parent, some people step up when things go bad.

Go and read the rest of that story.  You may get a bit choked up, but in a good way.  Thanks to Tam for posting that the other day.

There are alot of American flags flying in my neighborhood, and I enjoy seeing them, because for myself the American flag represents Independence Day, not jinjoism or any of the other negatives which are at times associated with the flag.  In celebration of Independence Day, I retired my defiled American flag, and put up a new one.  Here it is, and Happy Independence Day.

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Posted by John Venlet on 07/04 at 07:47 AM
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