Posted on 04/11/2008 7:06:24 AM PDT by Tatze
“It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honors that we are fighting, but for freedom — for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.”
AMEN!
Thanks.
Connery was a wonderful actor, one of my favorite living actors. But have you ever heard him speak extemporaneously, without a script?
Are you a therapist?
Sean Connery almost ran me over in Carmel CA when I was a young USAF airman.
My brush with greatness.
He screeched his RR to a stop to let me cross, when I saw who it was, I waved like a retarded monkey.
He just smiled and then said, “Get the BLEEP out of the road.”
This statement shows the total lack of understanding of our Declaration of Independence. America was founded on certain universal truths:
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, —
Independence only became necessary (and risky) as a last resort:
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.to achieve the former.
In fact the reason for the Declaration was that the founders thought it necessary to explain in detail the decision to take the action.
When in the Course of human events it becomes NECESSARY . . . a decent respect to the opinions of mankind REQUIRES that they should declare the causes which IMPEL them to the separation.
Abraham Lincoln, one of the great scholars of the Declaration of Independence, knew the distinction well. The south separated not for the principles of liberty but for slavery; political independence is only a means, not a truth or ideal.
If Sean Connery wants to make the case for independence it better be in service to life or liberty. Likewise, when the Dali Lama reveals himself as an avowed marxist, his case for independence should fall on deaf ears.
There can be only One...
What is the difference between a Scot and an Englishman? Genetic studies show that there is very little difference in bloodlines among the various parts of the British Isles. One may be proud of Scottish heritage (which I myself carry), but it is little different from the genetic heritage of anyone else around that part of the world.
As for the culture, the Scots are nowadays quite similar to the English: most speak English (all but a tiny minority), even though some have a pronunciation which sounds unintelligible to Americans, they can read and understand standard English. In religion, the Scots are mixed, as are the English, and that is not as big a point of division among Christians as in earlier times. So what possible basis is there for having a separate, independent state?
There are independent countries which are independent because of historical quirks, and we leave them alone, simply because disruption is worse than complete conformity. There are also breakaway independence movements which don’t make sense, and which are nothing but a game for certain politicians.
There is really little reason for English-speaking Canada to be separate from the US, but we have no problem with the situation, because our relationship is strong, and economic ties (and family ties) have grown in spite of the border. (Hillary and the anti-NAFTA people might hurt this, but the practical advantages of economic integration are very strong, and may deter even her).
Since they are all members of the European Union now anyhway, and behodlen to the European Constitution, would the independence of Scotland be more like Detriot becoming a state separate from Michigan? Who cares what the subregions are called? It is all ruled by the EU now anyway, or soon will be as time goes on...
Mayabe they just want to speak for themselves and not be answerable to far off authorities on matters of importance to them witho only a very diluted representation in the world bodies that control all of outr lives...
Looks like Sean wears a Gordan Tartan vairant.
“Abraham Lincoln, one of the great scholars of the Declaration of Independence, knew the distinction well. The south separated not for the principles of liberty but for slavery...”
Abraham Lincoln was not a “scholar” of the Declaration of Independence, although I am sure that he actually read it more than a few times.
The South did wish independence for Liberty, and to preserve their distinctive culture. It sounds paradoxical in view of the slavery issue, but if you read what Southerners said, and look at their actions, it is evident. The North, on the other hand, was outraged that the nation was being weakened by division, and saw secession as unpatriotic and treasonable. You can fairly say that the motives on both sides were very similar.
I have a letter from an ancient cousin who fought in the Union Army from Pennsylvania. He feared that the South would invade and destroy his state! A Virginian might almost have written the same letter.
When it came down to slavery or independence, independence was more important to the leaders of the South. That is why they instituted a plan (too late!) to arm slaves as soldiers, and to give them freedom in return for service to the Confederacy. Many Southern leaders were not favorable to slavery, including Lee. That is why when the war ended, amongst the destruction and defeat, the South felt one sense of relief: that the slavery matter was over with. Almost no one wrote anything advocating its return, ever. I think that they were glad to be done with it.
That could be why he writes things down! :-)
Scots are inherently cooler. Trust me, I'm descended from both and my Scottish side is much cooler than my English side.
Plus, my High School's sports teams were called "the Scots." Who ever heard of a team called "the Limeys?" :-)
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