Many of us are planning our long weekends, vacations, or Bar-B-Qs.    We're carefully watching the weather reports to determine if the 4th will be hot, wet, or muggy.  But, how many of us are taking the time to remember the comparative handful of men who, only a short time ago (by European standards) risked their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to do something that had never been done before -- colonies breaking from their mother country.

Ever since the dawn of Man, the stronger have oppressed the weaker.  Throughout history, there are endless accounts of one people being enslaved or dominated by another.  And eventually, in each instance, the downtrodden would rise up and fight for their freedom.  Moses demanded freedom of Pharaoh; Spartacus revolted against Rome; and Robert the Bruce stood against King Edward.  

In every instance, the suffering of the oppressed was expressed in the crying out of voices.  Sometimes in song; sometimes in verse; sometimes in prose.  While the language was always different, and the syntax was never the same, the meaning never varied.  It's been said thousands of times in hundreds of languages.  

But it's never been said quite like this...

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 the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the 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, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

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Where are men (and women) like these today?


-- Modified on 7/1/2003 4:10:29 PM

The Battle of Culloden 1746




-- Modified on 7/1/2003 6:45:41 PM

But hey - at least the Brits came over and helped us stick it to the French, Germans, and everyone else  ---

I know many of these men and women, LOW. You just don't see them on TV, in the paper, in People magazine, or in our elected offices.  Take time to observe the core of your local community, you will find scores of these folks.

Many of these people went to Afghanistan and Iraq.  Countless others remain here as productive members of our great nation.

thanks for the timely post...  This weekend I will thank my neighbors and wish them well in their pursuit of happiness.

Freedom...

Little known, but we celebrate getting rid of you guys ) EOM

-- Modified on 7/2/2003 9:19:24 AM

You're absolutely right. They are everywhere..
If someone were to ask me - name five women that are truly remarkable women who've greatly impacted your life, I'd say, "Easy. My mother and four sisters.."

(famous Chicano actor) was the guest speaker and he asked the following question:
Name five famous people of color you studied every year in school 0-12 grade.

Anyone care to try?

Thanks for making an important point.  

I just want to make myself a little more clear than I had in my original post.  I have nothing but the utmost respect and amdmiration for those fine people who protect our freedoms.  Being a veteran myself, I know what they endure, and what they and their families sacrifice.

I have just as much respect and gratitude for those who hold the line against evil, anarchy, and disaster here at home as well.

My comment, "Where are men (and women) like these today," went not to the bravery and dedication of the framers (although they were certainly that), but to their vision, their eloquence (at least Jefferson's), and to their statesmanship.

It's this lack of statemanship in many of our higher leaders that I bemoan.  I hope this clears things up.

Showing my age.

Some political people of the last 20 yrs that
I would group with Jefferson et al:

Nelson Mandela -- South Africa
Corazon Aquino -- Philippines
Vaclav Havel -- Czech Republic
And my personal favorite: Lech Walesa -- Poland