Free Republic

Happy Independance Day! "Independence" is a bit of an unfortunate misnomer as it yields the impression that our liberties do not depend upon anything. True, they are such "inalienable rights" ordained by God Himself, nevertheless most countries do not experience them, and none to the degree that we do here in America. They are, in fact, dependent upon certain qualities unique to our great land, yet waning rapidly as we respond to the lure of other nations, seeking to be like them.

Two hundred and thirty years ago our Founding Fathers illuminated the world with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. For the first time in modern history common people would be free from the tyranny of rule by noble birth. These great men came from various backgrounds but the vast majority were united as Brothers in the Light of God. Their God was not an abstract concept or a creation of myth; He was the God of Abraham. The original intent of our Founding Fathers was that the Light of God shall not be excluded from public life but that...

Two Western Pennsylvania men will belly up to the World Series of eating today. They will try to become the best of the wurst in the dog-eat-dog world of competitive eating, wolfing down wieners at Coney Island in Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Brian Subich, of Johnstown, Cambria County, and Chip Simpson, 24, of Harrisville, Butler County, are two of 16 contestants who qualified to compete in the contest that's been won the past five years by a 5-foot-7, 150-pound Japanese man, Takeru Kobayashi. He once put down 50 hot dogs in 12 minutes. The contest, which has...

Starts 3:05 PM Pacific - 6:05 PM Eastern Half a world away, a contingent of brave young men and women of the United States military are risking their lives to preserve America’s freedom, liberty and safety. Some have made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against terrorism, and left behind family members and loved ones. Those left behind are called "Gold Star Families" and Move America Forward has partnered with these families to take them to Iraq - to see the future of hope and opportunity and freedom that their sons/daughters died fighting for. These Gold Star families want to...

Possenti Society Blasts Vatican UN Gun Grabbers for 4th of July Insult to American Gun Owners; Urges Church Collection ProtestsContact: John Snyder, 703-212-9863 ARLINGTON, Va., June 29 /Christian Newswire/ -- John Snyder, Founder/Chairman of the St. Gabriel Possenti Society, issued the following statement today: As we approach next week’s 230th commemoration of the signing of our Nation’s Declaration of Independence, we face the reality of three institutional insults to our country’s Fourth of July celebration of freedom. The first insult comes from a United Nations group meeting in New York, taking place now through July 7, to undermine the traditional,...

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq (Army News Service, May 22, 2006) – A lone Soldier stands off to the side at a memorial service unnoticed. When the end nears and volleys are fired, the Soldier steps forward, raises a trumpet to his lips and solemnly blares “Taps," the 24-note final tribute to departed service members. For more than a century, Taps has added closure to military funerals and memorial services attended by grieving families and friends. In Iraq, the 4th Infantry Division Band’s six trumpeters alternate playing Taps at memorial services throughout the Multi-National Division – Baghdad area of operations. Each musician...

HICAGO (April 19, 2006) – A little less than two months before the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. Men’s National Team received their highest ever position in the FIFA World Rankings, moving up one spot to fourth place. Their record-setting position puts them two spots ahead of CONCACAF rival Mexico and in front of such powerhouses as Argentina, Spain, France and England. The U.S. jumped ahead of Argentina, who fell from fourth to eighth, allowing the U.S., Spain, Mexico and France to move up one position each. The USA's Group E opponents in this summer’s World Cup in Germany...

BAQUBAH, Iraq (Army News Service, April 10, 2006) – Soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division are helping train Iraqi soldiers on how to use the Global Positioning System and how to save the lives of wounded buddies. Global positioning system The 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, is training the 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, on how to use the GPS. Through GPS technology, Soldiers use satellites to locate and navigate to predetermined positions. Sgt. Justin Buck of the 3rd BCT, 4th ID, is in charge of the GPS training, which he does with the help of...

Clues lead to a shared past / Newly discovered 4th-century ceramics show Korean influence Kazuya Sekiguchi and Hiroshi Tanaka / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers The recent discovery of Sueki unglazed ceramics at an archaeological site in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, has experts rethinking the chronology of early exchanges between Japan and the Korean Peninsula. The discovery revealed that the production of Sueki wares began in Japan in the late fourth century, 20 to 30 years earlier than archaeologists had believed, indicating that people from the Korean Peninsula who produced the ceramics arrived in Japan around the same time. Horseback riding and...

NORFOLK, Va. (Mar. 21, 2006) -- Balloons and streamers hang from the wall and ceiling. Anxious family members wait patiently inside as cold wind blows and rain pours, but doesn't dampen the spirit. Twelve Marines from Company A(-), 4th Amphibious Assault Battalion are returning from deployment and in about an hour, hugs and tears of joy will replace the anxiety. Mothers and wives discussing what to cook tonight for the Marines' first meal home provide a backdrop at the Little Creek Amphibious Base USO in Norfolk, Va., for this reunion. The 12 Marines were attached to the 3rd Provisional Security...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N. C. (Feb. 24, 2006) -- The 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti- Terrorism) will disband in a ceremony held here Friday. The components that make up 4th MEB (AT) will be reorganized to better enable the Marine Corps to fight and win the Global War on Terror. The MEB is currently comprised of five subordinate units, each with a specific mission and tailored capabilities. The Marine Corps Security Force Battalion trains and equips Marines and Sailors for anti-terrorism and physical security missions to protect designated naval or national assets worldwide. The Chemical- Biological Incident Response...

BAGHDAD (Army News Service, Feb. 17, 2006) – Responsible for the rebuilding of Baghdad’s infrastructure – restoration and improvement of electricity, water, sewer and transportation systems, members of the 4th Brigade Combat Team Infrastructure Coordination Element – known as ICE – have their work cut out for them. It’s a daunting task that requires support from the Iraqi government, several U.S. governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations, reconstruction efforts are one of the many missions facing the 4th BCT, 4th Infantry Division. “We bridge the gap by developing relationships not only with the Iraqis to gain their priorities – that is...

MINNEAPOLIS - The U.S. Census Bureau reports that overall taxes in Minnesota are high, but the taxman has a light touch on smokes, gambling and booze. The state has the fourth heaviest tax burden in the United States, but so-called sin taxes are less than the national average. The overall ranking is because incomes are higher in Minnesotan than most other states and because Minnesota relies more heavily on a progressive state income tax. Nan Madden of the nonprofit Minnesota Budget Project says it's no surprise that sin taxes are lower-than-average. She says when the national economy slowed down in...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Jan. 25, 2006) -- Marines and Sailors from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 774 recently received a very personal message of appreciation. Brigadier Gen. R. David Papak, the commanding general of 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, and Sgt. Maj. Jimmy D. Cummings, the Wing sergeant major, visited the Wild Geese of HMM-774, Jan. 18, at Al Asad, Iraq. The visit was much more than just a trip to inspect the front lines, Papak said. "I came to see my Marines," Papak said. "I don't want these guys out here having all this fun by themselves." The Wild Goose, a...

NEW ORLEANS (Sept. 11, 2005) -- The empty silence of a decimated New Orleans street is broken by the call of an infantryman, "United States Marines. Is anyone in there?" For the past six days, Marines from B Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, have been conducting search-and-rescue patrols with the help of Assault Amphibian Vehicles from 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion. Since their arrival here Sept. 5 as part of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force St. Bernard, the Marines of 1/8 and 4th Tracks have rescued 78 residents of New Orleans' hardest-hit areas. "We provide a unique capability to...

Flagstaff, Arizona 4th of July Parade !"For Republicans, every day is 4th of July. For Democrats every day is April 15th" - Ronald Reagan. The 4th of July parade was sponsored by the Coconino County Republican Committee, with the help of the NAU College Republicans the participants received a great welcoming; with enthusiastic clapping and waving. The GOP shirts were very popular !

Margaret Carlson: Do You know Where Your Flag Is? Margaret Carlson Fri Jul 1,11:45 AM ET Do you know where your flag is? It's being waved in the House of Representatives in lieu of doing any work on, say, gas prices, stem cell research, global warming (fossil fuel emissions still voluntary). Health care reform? Why bother with a doctor when you can have Bill First diagnose your illness from the floor of the Senate. Members so fearful of being called unpatriotic get closer and closer to passing the amendment to protect the flag from desecration. It takes guts to protect...

Macedonia's Megalithic Kokino Observatory Places 4th on NASA List 11/05/2005 Kokino Observatory in Macedonia, discovered two and a half years ago, has placed fourth on the NASA list rating old observatories. Explorations aimed at learning more about the observatory resume next month. By Marija Lazarova for Southeast European Times in Skopje -- 11/05/05 Macedonia's Megalithic Kokino Observatory is more than 3,800 years old. NASA has ranked it the fourth oldest in the world. Macedonia's Megalithic-era Kokino Observatory is located 1,030m above sea level on the Tativec Kamen Summit near Kumanovo. Archaeological and astronomical analyses have shown that the observatory is...

1962 Sunday Missal Mass Readings/Propers for the Forth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)   Colors:  Purple   INTROIT  Isaias 66: 10,11Rejoice, O Jerusalem: and come together all you that love her: rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow: that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of your consolation. -- (Ps. 121. 1). I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: we shall go into the house of the Lord. V.: Glory to the Father . . . -- Rejoice, O Jerusalem . . .   COLLECT - Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty...

1962 Missal Mass Readings/Propers for the Forth Sunday of Advent Colors:  Violet   INTROIT  Isaias 45: 8 Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Savior. -- (Ps. 18. 2). The heavens show forth the glory of God: and the firmament declareth the work of His hands. V.: Glory to the Father . . . -- Drop down dew, ye heavens . . .   COLLECT - O Lord, we beseech Thee, stir up Thy power, and come, and with great might succor us:...