Happy Fourth of July!

[filkertom]

Today is the 228th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In this turbulent world, we should all take a moment to reflect on what our most important documents meant, and still mean.

Fifty-six men risked their lives by signing that paper, declaring themselves Traitors to the Realm. But freedom was more important to them than safety. Freedom was more important to them than life. They understood sacrifice; Benjamin Franlin's famous quote about having to hang together, or else they'd all hang separately, was not a bon mot, but a reminder of the very real executions waiting for them if they failed. Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty or give me death!" was not hyperbole -- it was the only choice they had.

In the interest of reminding our fellow Americans what this year's election, what America, is really all about, let's go right to the source: the Declaration itself, at the National Archives. There's a great deal of living history on this excellent site; take the time to rediscover America. I think you'll have an excellent time.

And then, fire up the grill.

Update: two little goodies to make the 4th more... fourthy.

First, a fantastic essay from the L.A. Weekly, "Give Us Back Our Damn Flag".

Second, I (and Leslie and Mark Bernstein and Sharon) just got back from seeing Fahrenheit 9/11. Wow. Just... wow. I actually knew a great deal of the factual information presented in the film, but the way it's presented here is just stunning. Anybody else seen it yet?

Comments

[netpositive.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Tom. In these days of "give up some basic liberties so we can search your house for possible terrorists under the bed," it's a good reminder of what some of us thought "America" was all about.

[isolde-deely.livejournal.com]

I so agree. I love my country. I cannot in any way deny this. I pay taxes and serve on juries, and do my civic duty. It is my leaders I do not love, or even respect.

We are free. I love America

... And In The Common Tongue -- of the mid-30s, maybe, but...

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

SusanNY, one of the Atrios (http://atrios.blogspot.com/) commenters, pointed out H. L. Mencken's rewrite of the Declaration into plain English (http://www.bartleby.com/185/a1.html).

[partiallyclips.livejournal.com]

Just saw it this morning. A dozen more Michael Moores might just be capable of saving human civilization.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I tell ya, the man did some great work with this one. The DVD comes out in September, just in time for the elections, and I'm gifting my mom with it.

(By the way, are you gonna be at Dragon*Con? And, no, I haven't forgotten your tune -- my fault for not getting it to you. I will this week.)

[partiallyclips.livejournal.com]

Yes I will definitely be at Dragon*Con, and a little birdie told me there's a hell of a Dementia Track going on. I would really like to be part of that somehow. I have a recording date for the last weekend in July, so having the song next week would be fantastic timing. I have some things I wanted to ask you, so let me put those into an email.

However, in case you didn't hear yet, that business that Pete Abrams and I were working with Steve Jackson on at Penguicon worked out.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I did see about that, and I can't wait. As to the Dementia, I genuinely don't know, but I have a suspicion we can at least let you stick your nose in. I'll let you know more when I do, but it's gonna be like a special concert with me, Luke Ski, Tony Goldmark, and Ookla, and then we also each get our own concerts....

And we'll e-mail. :)

Just to be picky...

[sarekofvulcan.livejournal.com]

From what I've read, the Declaration wasn't signed on the 4th: it was approved then. Independence had actually been voted two days before, when Richard Henry Lee's motion was approved: John Adams felt that that should have been the day that was remembered.

(I can be a fan of 1776 and still have my history straight. :-) )