DAD, WHAT's UNABHÄNGIGKEITSTAG?</

Annual Vanity ^ | July 4, 2021 | Nathan Bedford

[nathanbedford]

DAD, WHAT's UNABHÄNGIGKEITSTAG?

"Is that when the thirteen colonies broke away from England?" My ten year inquired out of nowhere at 6 AM German time this morning. "Yeah, why do you want to know, eat your breakfast," I mumbled, too sleepy to be very curious. "Because I am afraid my teacher will ask me, since I am wearing this T-shirt and I'm the only American in the class." With an effort, I adjusted my gaze upward to his white T-shirt. It was brand new. Prominent on his breast was an image of the flag and below that:

OLD NAVY

FREEDOM 2005 TRADITION

Waking up now, I reflected that if the Old Navy company could so shamelessly trade on the image of the flag, it ought in decency at least amend the line below to:

FREEDOM 2005 COMMERCE

But then I thought, what could be more traditional in America than commercializing the flag?

"Waddayamean, you're the only American in class, what's that got to do with the Fourth of July?" My paternal antennae were also coming to life. I remembered that the kids had sometimes returned from Gymnasium, German high school, and recited seemingly off-hand remarks from professors disparaging America and especially George Bush. Some of the hearsay reports had been pretty rough, describing America as killing Iraqis or causing global warming and the like.

"I think he will call on me to explain the Declaration of Independence to the whole class," masking his apprehension. "So, what will you tell them?"

"That is how we got free of England," he replied, in German. "That's right, as far as it goes. Never mind breakfast, lets get to the computer, it time to search Free Republic." A few minutes later we had a copy of the declaration printed out, with the font changed to italics for psuedo verisimilitude to the venerable document.

"There is actually a couple of ideas in here that are more important than announcing our break with England," I said, highlighting with a yellow marker this passage:

that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights

And this passage too:

Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed

"This means that who you are, what rights you have, come directly from God and not from the government. In fact, the government is there to serve you, as a child of God, not the other way around, and when the government takes away your rights, the government is not legitimate, and you can change it."

"What's legitimate?" Ah, " berechtigt," I answered. I must have gotten it right for he seemed satisfied with the translation and his Deutsch is better than mine. Handing him the printout, I said, "take this with you, read it on the bus, and when you get to class you tell them these ideas are America's gift to the world. A lot of people in Europe think your rights come from the government, not the other way around. No one had ever done this 'for real' before. Look what it says here just before where they signed it, it means they knew they were risking their lives:"

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor

"OK, dad, see ya."

An hour later, his mother asked me, "Did you give him a printout of the Declaration of Independence?" "Yup," I proudly responded.

She laughed, "He said, 'Dad really expects me to read this on the school bus'"

[Nifster]

In any other country consumerism is not allowed. The only reason the Chinese allow smart phones is for tracking purposes

[DiogenesLamp]

"There is actually a couple of ideas in here that are more important than announcing our break with England," I said, highlighting with a yellow marker this passage:

that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights

I have come to understand that for most people, those are the only words in the Declaration. The rest of it is meaningless gibberish because the *ONLY* thing that matters is "all men are created equal."

You see, these 13 slave owning states were commenting on slavery, and nothing else.

Everyone says so.

[DiogenesLamp]

There is a piece of parchment reposing in the Library of Congress drafted by Thomas Jefferson but written in blood at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, ...

Valley Forge yes. Gettysburg no. In Gettysburg, one side was fighting for freedom and independence, and the winning side was fighting for subjugation and control of other people.

Gettysburg was the exact opposite of what the Declaration of Independence stood for.

[DiogenesLamp]

I can understand your son's reply in that he was but a boy at the time. A better question would have been, Does dad really think Germans would understand this? They nearly destroyed Europe twice in one century, seeking to rule by force (not by force of ideas).

The Germans do seem to love themselves some dictatorship.

[Bigg Red]

Great essay, great story.

A blessed Independence Day to you and yours.

[Bigg Red]

I was worth it, indeed. Thanks.

[drSteve78]

Great post…🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

DITTO.

[Billthedrill]

Happy Independence Day, NB! John Adams said we could have fireworks on the 6th too. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

[Kevmo]

+1
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

"Our representative democracy Constitutional Republic "

Why do we let these so-called democrats call this a democracy when it is NOT?

[Hootowl]

Unless things have changed Denmark also celebrates our 4th of July.

[Monkey Face]

Thanks, Nully, and yes it was well worth the read, so thank you nathanbedford!

'Face

;o]

[ifinnegan]

“that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights”

You got something against that?

[ifinnegan]

Oh yeah. I forgot. You’re crazy.

Carry on.

[a fool in paradise]

>>If the USA means so little to leftists, why do they live here?

To Subvert it. Tear it down

They believe that Communism’s spread around the globe was thwarted by the USA and they don’t like this shining beacon on the hill.

They’ve sought to destroy all of the institutions in America. Marriage, chuch, academia, journalism, corporations, etc.

They don’t like the American dream of owning your own home, traveling wherever you want to go, raising a nuclear family (2 parents), and possibly starting your own business.

[wastedyears]

I posted a vanity on this once years ago. About how it’s Independence Day; the Fourth of July is merely another day on the calendar.

[MHGinTN]

Thank you for posting this inspirational story. Not ashamed to say reading it brought a tear or two when you got to the payment sentence / the affirmation written the blood of patriot defenders of our taboo structure so badly eroded now.

[Utah Binger]

Yes they do hold the Rebild Festival. I was able to attend every year from 1961-1963. Don't know if the people of Denmark have the same respect for us as they did then. It was only 15 years after the war and they loved America.

Watched an interesting film last night called The Good Traitor which deals with the ambassador from Denmark trying to get Roosevelt to enter the war. It was interesting how they portrayed Roosevelt. It's a Danish film so as one might imagine the didn't think much of him. Things are sure different now it seems.

[SuperLuminal]

Thanks for the memory...

I’m old enough to actually remember when the Declaration was in effect and had any meaning & respect in America...

See... There are advantages to being 87 and just a few months away from 88...

[Chgogal]

Happy Independence Day!

It was well worth the read. Thank you.