Two hundred and thirty four years ago today, a group of courageous men took upon their shoulders what they knew would be a monumental task: severing ties with Great Britain.
Two days prior, they had voted after significant debate, to become independent from England. Now, they would be affixing their names to a piece of parchment that may well result in their deaths as traitors, or rebels, those who rejected the tyranny of King George.
The resulting document, the American "Declaration of Independence" was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvanie on a hot, steamy day.
It was a move that forever changed the world . . .
Happy Birthday America!!!
04 July 2010
Happy Independence Day!!!
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5 comments:
Independence comes at a great cost to our children sometimes.
I'm not sure of the meaning of your statement. When in fact independence gives our children a better life than we have ourselves. As we raise children we want them to be independent ultimately of us, for eventually they will need to be. In the same manner, England tried far too hard to hold onto its "children" -- colonies it had established around the world. In the end England tried to hang onto its colonies purely for selfish financial reasons. Not unexpected for the times, but the "shot heard 'round the world" as the first skirmish at Concord/Lexington Green is often called, meant that nothing would be the same for England and its colonies around the world ever again. Sadly, it is our government these days that is trying to yoke freedoms and convince unenlightened people that it has all the answers, when in fact, many of the founders of the U.S. realized and wrote clear back in the 1700s that overreaching government ultimately makes citizens into subjects. And frankly, Independence Day IS about our children. Helping them learn and become ready to go out on their own. And realize the value of independent thought, their freedoms, and the rights of all to be free in this nation to pursue their dreams unfettered by government intrusions.
I was thinking very locally, not globally.
A- Thanks for writing.
The point you posed, with all frankness, is misguided in my opinion, no matter whether local or global. To suggest that independence comes at a cost to our children? They need to be taught to be independent. The most messed up children around are those whose parents shelter them to no end, who make them afraid of their own shadows. And when you shelter them and tie them down with overbearing restrictions, that is when they rebel and push away and get involved in far more dangerous activities. England would look back on this and say the same. If the King had only worked with the young U.S. government rather than declaring war, there would have been prosperity for both nations during that intervening time. Locally, citizens are facing loss of their independence with every-increasing government intrusions into their privacy. Often in the name of security, or worse, by government officials who claim that the citizenry isn't smart enough to look after itself. True there are those who slip between the cracks but there are safety net programs to help people stay on their feet while they find new opportunities, etc. But to make a blanket, and what most thinking people would agree is an irreponsible statement that just blurts out "independence comes at a cost to our children?" .... Only provincial thinking and from someone who themselves doesn't see the bigger picture. Get out more. Read, learn, discuss, think. Observe. With all respect, your statement illustrates many things. But to think independence is costly to children? In itself, the statement makes absolutely no sense. Parents have a responsibility to teach their children, and to make the statement you made is, well, denying such an education. Still, thanks for writing, and reading TRL!
You're right, parents DO have a responsibility to their children. A lot of people forget that.
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