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When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of earth a separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and nature's G-d entitle them. A decent respect for the opinions of mankind require that they declare the causes which impel them to this separation.
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.
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And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

I memorized those beautiful words 53 years ago when I was seven. They still bring a catch in my throat and tear in my eye when I think of all those words mean, and all they can mean. Happy Independence Day, my beautiful Americans. Let Freedom Ring!

The day of our nation's birth in that little hall in Philadelphia, [was] a day on which debate had raged for hours. The men gathered there were honorable men hard-pressed by a king who had flouted the very laws they were willing to obey. Even so, to sign the Declaration of Independence was such an irretrievable act that the walls resounded with the words 'treason, the gallows, the headsman's axe,' and the issue remained in doubt. [On that day] 56 men, a little band so unique we have never seen their like since, had pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. Some gave their lives in the war that followed, most gave their fortunes, and all preserved their sacred honor... In recent years, however, I've come to think of that day as more than just the birthday of a nation. It also commemorates the only true philosophical revolution in all history. Oh, there have been revolutions before and since ours. But those revolutions simply exchanged one set of rules for another. Ours was a revolution that changed the very concept of government. Let the Fourth of July always be a reminder that here in this land, for the first time, it was decided that man is born with certain God-given rights; that government is only a convenience created and managed by the people, with no powers of its own except those voluntarily granted to it by the people. We sometimes forget that great truth, and we never should." —Ronald Reagan

Happy Birthday, America!

In 1776, the flag and Army were already one year old, both coming into existence June 14th, 1775.

But on July 4th, 1776, we finally found the words that could articulate why we would now chose to use that Army and that rally around that flag.

Prepare, prepare, prepare for action. Let your enemy know that you are prepared to take action. Tell the world why you must certainly will fight.

Then fight!

It took seven years to win the victory. It took over a decade of a very imperfect Confederation before we formed a federal Constitutional government. And maybe, maybe we aren't perfected yet!

But we know what we want to become, and with God's help we'll get closer each passing year.

Prepare, prepare, prepare for action. Articulate our cause. And then when our enemies will not listen to reason and will not let us live in peace and security, then we will fight!

And rest assured that we will win, for that is the legacy of our Fourth of July, 1776.

God bless our patriot traditions, and our American resolve.

You're a Grand Old Flag, you're a high-flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave
You're the emblem of the land I love
The home of the free and the brave

Every heart beats true 'neath the Red, White and Blue
Where there's never a boast or brag
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
Keep your eye on the Grand Old Flag

(Written in 1906 by George M. Cohan, America's own music-man patriot)

Leni

Happy Independence Day to all my American and FReeper friends, from a supportive Canadian.
May your flag wave high and proudly and may you and your country last forever.
Your great nation is a beacon of goodness in the world and I'm proud to have you as my neighbor and friend.

Happy 4th!

Cheers
Jim