Post by josephbaileyone on Jul 3, 2010 14:08:21 GMT -5
Yet again, the USA will celebrate another birthday this July 4, her 234th to be precise and while we will all be doing quintessential Americana this weekend, are we remembering that gift of Independence that keeps on giving?
What matters most regarding the celebration of American Independence is not our cook out's, our flag waving, watching of fireworks, listening to patriotic sounds or taking in a patriotic movie or even out to the ballpark to catch a baseball game but the gift that keeps giving. Everyday throughout the year we partake in the blessings provided by it. We argue with our fellow Americans about it and too often it is used in the furtherance of goals really unrelated and unconnected to it.
Irony surrounds the birthday of America. In 1826, 50 years to the day, Jefferson and Adams-two of those most responsible for this day-pass on and then just this week, right before July 4th, the nation's longest serving U.S. Senator passes on as well. The greatest irony of July 4 is that no one in 1776 had any idea what was coming out of Philadelphia until the document was released and that was TWO DAYS after it was written to allow for the Author's to get out of town, lest they be hanged for treason.
There were 56 men who signed not only their names but their lives and fortunes to that document and many of them lost all that they had defending what they wrote that fateful 1776 day. Fast forward to 1863 and perhaps the most important battle ever for America and maybe for the world took place on July 4, the Battle of Gettysburg, for it was that battle that saved the Union. No matter the patriotism of those fighting against the Union.
How many of our fellow Americans will celebrate our nation's birth in a foreign land this holiday weekend? I don't mean just those in harm's way in Afghanistan but those at an Embassy, in the Foreign Service, working overseas because that is where their career/job took them, and every American who finds themselves away from HOME.
This current Census count will tally maybe more than 300 million of us, did you get that? 300 million! There were only about 3 million when the nation birthed itself. Our Union has grown to 50 States and to be honest about it, should add two, maybe three more in the next decade-if we as a nation can remember that America was built to take in those the world hates.
Why do we stay together? What is it about our Union that binds us together? This year the 4th will be on a Sunday and thus, millions of us will celebrate the birth of the good ole USA while at church. Is it because we are a "Christian nation?" Yet, there will be millions that will be nowhere near a house of worship, what about them?
One word sets America apart from all other nations, all other peoples, all other everything that exists on this planet and it is what defines us, regardless of our creed/language/heritage/skin color/you name it. That one word drove the actions of those that really did commit treason in their time, saved the world thrice from tyranny, and keeps us together even when we hate each other. It also allows us to heal from self-inflicted harm and war upon each other-something that other nations cannot seem to do.
The word itself has many definitions, almost like beauty in that what it means often is in the eye of the holder. Yet, it is the one word that every American should be thankful for come this July 4th, regardless of the Deity that they thank for it because without we are nothing as a people, a nation, or more importantly, as a land.
Whatever each American does on this July 4th, I hope that all 300 million of them say it with an attitude of gratitude, a moment of silence for those who have paid for it with their life, and that whatever else we may do as Americans, it the very essence of our existence. Liberty, you will find it nowhere else like you will in America.
What matters most regarding the celebration of American Independence is not our cook out's, our flag waving, watching of fireworks, listening to patriotic sounds or taking in a patriotic movie or even out to the ballpark to catch a baseball game but the gift that keeps giving. Everyday throughout the year we partake in the blessings provided by it. We argue with our fellow Americans about it and too often it is used in the furtherance of goals really unrelated and unconnected to it.
Irony surrounds the birthday of America. In 1826, 50 years to the day, Jefferson and Adams-two of those most responsible for this day-pass on and then just this week, right before July 4th, the nation's longest serving U.S. Senator passes on as well. The greatest irony of July 4 is that no one in 1776 had any idea what was coming out of Philadelphia until the document was released and that was TWO DAYS after it was written to allow for the Author's to get out of town, lest they be hanged for treason.
There were 56 men who signed not only their names but their lives and fortunes to that document and many of them lost all that they had defending what they wrote that fateful 1776 day. Fast forward to 1863 and perhaps the most important battle ever for America and maybe for the world took place on July 4, the Battle of Gettysburg, for it was that battle that saved the Union. No matter the patriotism of those fighting against the Union.
How many of our fellow Americans will celebrate our nation's birth in a foreign land this holiday weekend? I don't mean just those in harm's way in Afghanistan but those at an Embassy, in the Foreign Service, working overseas because that is where their career/job took them, and every American who finds themselves away from HOME.
This current Census count will tally maybe more than 300 million of us, did you get that? 300 million! There were only about 3 million when the nation birthed itself. Our Union has grown to 50 States and to be honest about it, should add two, maybe three more in the next decade-if we as a nation can remember that America was built to take in those the world hates.
Why do we stay together? What is it about our Union that binds us together? This year the 4th will be on a Sunday and thus, millions of us will celebrate the birth of the good ole USA while at church. Is it because we are a "Christian nation?" Yet, there will be millions that will be nowhere near a house of worship, what about them?
One word sets America apart from all other nations, all other peoples, all other everything that exists on this planet and it is what defines us, regardless of our creed/language/heritage/skin color/you name it. That one word drove the actions of those that really did commit treason in their time, saved the world thrice from tyranny, and keeps us together even when we hate each other. It also allows us to heal from self-inflicted harm and war upon each other-something that other nations cannot seem to do.
The word itself has many definitions, almost like beauty in that what it means often is in the eye of the holder. Yet, it is the one word that every American should be thankful for come this July 4th, regardless of the Deity that they thank for it because without we are nothing as a people, a nation, or more importantly, as a land.
Whatever each American does on this July 4th, I hope that all 300 million of them say it with an attitude of gratitude, a moment of silence for those who have paid for it with their life, and that whatever else we may do as Americans, it the very essence of our existence. Liberty, you will find it nowhere else like you will in America.