Independence Day

[dlochner]

Happy Independence Day to all.

While we are busy with our celebrations and grilled hamburgers, let us take a few minutes to read the document that set us a on 200+ year experiment in democracy.

The Declaration is instructive. A copy can be read here:
http://www.constitution.org/us_doi.pdf

I am always drawn to the last sentence and the frequent use of the first person plural pronoun, We.

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.

 

[jssailem]

Happy Fourth of July... Great statement in the document. It feels like that is one of those phrases that gets lost in day to day events. Then some tragedy happens and we all are seen pulling together. Maybe it is not us... Could it be the News...

Happy Fourth. I started 5 years ago sharing a copy of the Declaration with folks as a setting on the dinner table. I try to get someone preferably of the younger set to read it to the assembled friends. Sure it is corny, but you would be amazed at the discussions it creates. "They said that?????"

Happy Independence Day everyone.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

When Longfellow wrote "O Ship of State" for Lincoln's second inauguration the nation was as torn apart as it is now. It seems worthwhile on this Independence Day to post this excerpt from it:

THOU, TOO SAIL ON 0 SHIP OF STATE,
SAIL ON 0 UNION STRONG AND GREAT.
HUMANITY WITH ALL ITS FEARS,
WITH ALL ITS HOPE OF FUTURE YEARS,
IS HANGING BREATHLESS ON THY FATE.

WE KNOW WHAT MASTER LAID THY KEEL,
WHAT WORKMEN WROUGHT THY RIBS OF STEEL
WHO MADE EACH MAST AND SAIL AND ROPE,
WHAT ANVILS RANG, WHAT HAMMERS BEAT,
IN WHAT A FORGE AND WHAT A HEAT
WERE SHAPED THE ANCHORS OF THY HOPE!

FEAR NOT EACH SUDDEN SOUND AND SHOCK,
'TIS OF THE WAVE AND NOT THE ROCK;.
'TIS BUT THE FLAPPING OF THE SAIL
AND NOT A RENT MADE BY THE GALE.
IN SPITE OF ROCK AND TEMPEST'S ROAR,
IN SPITE OF FALSE LIGHTS ON THE SHORE,
SAIL ON, NOR FEAR TO BREAST THE SEA!
OUR HEARTS, OUR HOPES, ARE ALL WITH THEE,
OUR HEARTS, OUR HOPES, OUR PRAYERS, OUR TEARS,
OUR FAITH TRIUMPHANT O'ER OUR FEARS,
ARE ALL WITH THEE--ARE ALL WITH THEE!