Free Republic

In June, 1776, with Richard Henry Lee’s proposal for independence from Great Britain awaiting a vote in the Continental Congress, a committee of five – Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert R. Livingston, Roger Sherman, and Thomas Jefferson – selected one from among their number to be the key author of a formal Declaration of Independence. While the entire Continental Congress contributed to it, through their helpful editing, the principal author has long been known to be Thomas Jefferson, and he was rightly so proud of it that he wanted his authorship of this document to be on his tombstone rather...

On July 4, Americans gather to celebrate our nation’s Independence at family gatherings, backyard barbecues, and firework displays. Often we do this without thinking of the meaning of this uniquely American holiday. For too long – from our classrooms to the halls of Congress - our Founders, the Declaration, and our Constitution have been forgotten or even willfully ignored. But 2012 must be different. This year, join with Hillsdale College in a simple – yet powerful – symbol of support for the principles of liberty. This 4th of July, Hillsdale College wants you to join with your friends, family, and...

It is great to be at world's largest democracy to celebrate the birthday of world's oldest democracy -- this was how US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell described America's Independence Day celebrations here. Addressing the gathering at the American centre, she said, "my belief is that we have much in common and India and US are very-very close with people. "We had shared colonial heritage and we each had struggled for our Independence and for our freedom," she said. Powell said both the democracies are vibrant and diverse and our relationship is flourishing. "You, the youth of India and also...

It is an ever-growing matter of suspense how long it will take before there is general recognition of the fact that, although the spread of democracy is — next to its irreplaceable contribution to victory in World War II and the Cold War — America’s greatest bequest to the world, most of the world worked better in colonial times. No one could seriously dispute that almost all of sub-Saharan Africa, all of North Africa except Morocco, all of the Middle East except Israel and Jordan and most of the oil-rich states, and the entire former British Indian Empire were better...

DEFEAT THE STATISTS in 2012! Sweet Liberty forever... ___________________________________________________More at Reaganite Republican Ronald Reagan Independence Day Speech -here-

St. George Mormon Temple Haunted? Did the Declaration of Independence signers appear as ghosts to a later Lds 'prophet'? Without saying his name, Mormon leaders and grassroots Mormons daily reference Wilford Woodruff when they interact with non-Mormons and the media. How so? Well, they like to tell others how polygamy is a supposed bygone of another era; how a certain Lds "prophet" in 1890 put the kabosh on it...or, at least, started a mainstream Mormon move toward monogamy. Yet, there's a little-known episode that this same Wilford Woodruff said that occurred in the 1870s -- before becoming the head "prophet"...

How many Independence Days does America have left to celebrate? That appears to be up to us. I’m reposting these thoughts, originally marking Independence Day, 2009 because the concerns I noted then have not only not been addressed, they grow more egregious with each passing week. Consider this a call to arms. All boots on the ground my fellow Americans, evening is closing in on us fast: Independence. Not Just a Day. Patrick Henry passionately appealed to his fellow colonists in 1775...

“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…” ...Please read the whole thing. Read it to your children, to your grandchildren, the neighbor’s children. They need to know. God knows, they will not learn about it in school any more - probably because His name is invoked with such reckless abandon therein, with no concern whatsoever for the separation of church and state...

..."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." The principles of that Declaration have informed our history and inspired our neighbors in other parts of the world to stand up against all forms of tyranny. As we reflect upon the text we should remember that our forebears were not declaring their independence from Divine Providence. Rather, they were trusting in the Governance...

Last we checked, about half of Americans don’t pay income tax. Is it surprising then that so many Americans want to receive benefits paid for by income taxes? When a benefit is offered at little or no cost to the one receiving it, how many people have the strength of character to turn it down on principle? Yes, we know, some people are flummoxed by the mere raising of “principle” as a basis for turning down something of value provided at little or no cost to them. What principle might that be? Might we suggest independence? As opposed to dependence...

Saw a graphic that said this on Facebook, it was kind of hard to read and not well designed. I tried to improve on it a bit...

This video should be reminder to all of us that Independence Day is much more than fireworks, cookouts and a day off from work. It’s a commemoration of the things that make our nation great, and the values we hold in common. Thanks for helping us to tell that story, and have a wonderful holiday. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbWD0z8jkI0&feature=player_embedded

Two Schools of Thought* By: Larry Walker, Jr. *“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off,...

Occupy Wall Street - Police Struggle with Barricades Since September 2011, we have heard much in the news about the Occupy Wall Street movement. The One Percent ....The 99 Percent ...(reference: Occupy Wall Street: Who are the one percent? | Fight Back!) These phrases above have become the new buzz words of the day - labels that divide us ... again ... this time by class. Initially (in my humble opinion), the Occupy movement had expressed some legitimate concerns: the rich and powerful - "the One Percent" - rigging the game to enrich and advance themselves at the expense...

It should be safe to say that it is perfectly acceptable to cancel the fourth of July as a paid holiday. Particularly if you are a Freeper business owner. Many of the grievances stated as the reason for the original declaration has been far surpassed. At the Boiling point house hold it will no longer be celebrated but mourned. Old glory will forever be relegated to a historic relic of a once great nation. It no longer represents the uplifting patriotic, proud feeling it once did, nor does it represent a country currently worth fighting for. RIPUSA.

NICK Clegg last night branded those who believed in Scottish independence as “extremists”, as he claimed the Liberal Democrats had won the “centre ground” of the constitutional debate by calling for more Holyrood powers short of separation. The Deputy Prime Minister underlined his commitment to handing more powers to the Scottish Parliament as he declared that he was a “devolutionist” rather than a Unionist. On a visit north of the Border, Mr Clegg described independence as “the extreme” – a choice of words that led to the SNP suggesting that the Lib Dem leader should “rethink” his language. In an...

On September 17, 2010 President Barack Obama spoke to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute 33rd Annual Award Gala. During his speech – reading from a teleprompter – he quoted from the Declaration of Independence. Here is what he said: “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, endowed with certain unalienable rights, life and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Perhaps his teleprompter or his brain just can’t handle the phrase “endowed by our Creator!” The Declaration of Independence defines the Constitution philosophically and spiritually, therefore in Beauty and its Author. “Progressives” have argued...

Declaration of Independence Was 'Illegal,' Grounds for Treason, British Lawyers SayPublished October 20, 2011 | FoxNews.com The Declaration of Independence was “illegal” and “treasonable,” according to a team of British lawyers, the BBC reports. The assertion was made at a debate in Philadelphia between British and American lawyers over the legitimacy of the United States of America. At the debate, pitting British barristers against American attorneys, lawyers for the former colonial power argued that America’s Declaration of Independence in 1776 “was not only illegal, but actually treasonable,” according to the BBC. The lawyers representing the British team decided that the...

Was the Declaration of Independence legal? In Philadelphia, American and British lawyers have debated the legality of America's founding documents.On Tuesday night, while Republican candidates in Nevada were debating such American issues as nuclear waste disposal and the immigration status of Mitt Romney's gardener, American and British lawyers in Philadelphia were taking on a far more fundamental topic. Namely, just what did Thomas Jefferson think he was doing? Some background: during the hot and sweltering summer of 1776, members of the second Continental Congress travelled to Philadelphia to discuss their frustration with royal rule.By 4 July, America's founding fathers approved...

THIS IS WHAT A MOB LOOKS LIKE October 5, 2011 by ANN COULTER I am not the first to note the vast differences between the Wall Street protesters and the tea partiers. To name three: The tea partiers have jobs, showers and a point. No one knows what the Wall Street protesters want -- as is typical of mobs. They say they want Obama re-elected, but claim to hate "Wall Street."You know, the same Wall Street that gave its largest campaign donation in history to Obama,who, in turn, bailed out the banks and made Goldman Sachs the fourth branch...