Recommended reading for July 4th-USA 247th Birthday-

lousubcap

Support and defend the Constitution of the United States.  Without that foundation, the rule of laws and citizens who respect them are on perilous ground.  This country stands so much higher than the political rancor. 
Below are some excerpts from then Governor Reagan in 1967-I encourage all to read.

Then focus on the first two and closing paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence:

"January 5, 1967

Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Legislature, my fellow Constitutional Officers, Members of our California Congressional Delegation and Fellow Californians: 

I'm sorry that this administration and the legislature wasn't able to deliver the sunshine a few days earlier, but you must be aware we have been very busy just getting acquainted with each other and we saved it for this morning.

To a number of us, this is a first and hence a solemn and a momentous occasion, and yet, on the broad page of state and national history, what is taking place here is almost a commonplace routine. We are participating in the orderly transfer of administrative authority by direction of the people. And this is the simple magic of the commonplace routine, which makes it a near miracle to many of the worlds inhabitants. This continuing fact that the people, by democratic process, can delegate power, and yet retain the custody of it.

Perhaps you and I have lived too long with this miracle to properly be appreciative. Freedom is a fragile thing and it's never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people.  And those in world history who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again."

And here are the first two and last paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence.  You should read them.  Very powerful writings.  

"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. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world...

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. 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."

Happy birthday USA-

GrateEggspectations

You beat me to it, Cap. Happy 4th of July, all!

lousubcap

Truth be told, I intentionally stayed up til past midnight this AM to post the above.  Hopefully will be able to do again next year. 

CTMike

Great reminder, thanks.

lousubcap

And a bit of some interesting information: (not my writing)

"Tuesday, July 4, 2023. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on this date in 1826. In a twist only a hackneyed novelist would attempt, they passed away exactly 50 years to the day after the document they produced in Philadelphia (with considerable assistance) inflamed the colonies -- and the world -- with the spirit of Independence.

In a further dramatic flair, Adams was said by a relative to have proclaimed on his deathbed in Quincy, Massachusetts, "Jefferson survives!"

This great exit line, which sounds like a Hallmark movie ending, may or may not have been uttered. If Adams really said it, he was mistaken by a few hours: Jefferson actually died first. That isn't the point of the story, of course. The point is that these two extraordinary men -- friends, Founders, presidents, enemies, and finally, friends again -- were joined in death and in life, just as Virginia and Massachusetts were joined. And as the North and South were joined, although it took Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War to solidify this Union.

Does Jefferson survive today? Will his reputation withstand the latest periodic reevaluation of America's values and national identity? There are no guarantees. For reasons that are not entirely unjust, the Sage of Monticello has been a touchstone in the culture wars even in Charlottesville.

But I submit this morning to a candid world that if 90-year-old John Adams' dying words were "Jefferson survives!" he wasn't merely talking about the mortal body of his 83-year-old co-conspirator. Adams would have been talking about the lasting impact of the ideas that they and their band of worthies unleashed in Philadelphia on this date in 1776.

In one of his last letters to Adams, Jefferson used the word "Argonauts" to describe the Founders. They were certainly sailing into unknown waters in using the power of Jefferson's pen and George Washington's generalship to challenge the British empire. But that's what they did, and 247 years later Americans are still trying to make the most of it. Make the most of our independence, that is."

shtgunal3

Great read, thanks for posting Cap. 

FlyOverCountry

Question for the Canadians. I know you celebrate Thanksgiving on a different day than we do. Do you celebrate the fourth of July on the same day or a different one?

Dobie

If you celebrate Independence Day as I do, remember you celebrate an armed insurrection. 

lousubcap

Every calendar has a July 4th-better tossed to the Brits.  They had more skin in the game.

CTMike

FlyOverCountry said:

Question for the Canadians. I know you celebrate Thanksgiving on a different day than we do. Do you celebrate the fourth of July on the same day or a different one?

Canada celebrates the 4th of July on July 1st. 😎😎

lousubcap

Dobie said:

If you celebrate Independence Day as I do, remember you celebrate an armed insurrection. 

Yep- but with a clear purpose with some very wise men able to articulate the whys. 

And I will support and defend the US Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic til i go to the oven.