Do you know why we celebrate today?
I’ll bet you think it’s because we became independent of England. That would be a common misconception. We celebrate July 4th because it is the day we adopted the Declaration of Independence, which officially made us a nation at war with England. The revolutionary war was not over until 1783, when we actually were free of the Brits.
I bring this up today, because of Obama being elected and our misconceptions about what he will do for us. It would be easy to think that, having done our job by electing him, healthcare, the economy, international issues, the auto industry, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, North Korea etc etc ad nauseum, would now be his issues – off our plate and all on his. That would be a horrible mistake indeed.
Obama said it in his inaugural speech: his election does not signal that change has happened: it signals that we have an opportunity to effect change. In fact, the real work, the hard and ugly work, is still yet to be done. For example: for us to actually effect change regarding healthcare, we will need to have a pretty massive uprising of pissed off people – enough for the elected officials to hear what we have to say, louder than they hear the KaChing that drops in their pockets from lobbyists. Obama will simply make what might be more possible, But he cannot actually make it happen on his own.
Just as the first continental army and navy went to war on the announcement and declaration of a profound, impactful and soaring document, yet had to fight on for several more years to lay in place our independence, so must we now continue to support, challenge, and at times yell loudly at our government and President Barack Obama – loudly enough that they get what we have to say, and do not forget who put them in office.
For it is the doom of man that we forget.
Have a safe, healthy and happy 4th.
Actually, the Second Continental Congress adopted the resolution of independence on July 2, 1776, which is what really put us at war with England, and is probably the day we should actually be celebrating. The Declaration of Independence was adopted two days later, and is a statement explaining the decision which had been made by the Congress two days prior.
I agree with all of your sentiments, but it’s just an interesting bit of trivia that the day that became celebrated as our independence day isn’t really the day on which we declared our independence formally for the first time.
In fact, on July 3, 1776, John Adams wrote the following to his wife, Abigail: “The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”
Of course, Adams would be proven wrong, as the Declaration of Independence received more publicity than the (perhaps more important) Resolution, and July 4 became, from the outset, the day that Americans celebrated their newly-declared independence.
John Adams. Guns, God and Glory. What a guy!
Happy Fourth!
john adams teaches a lesson.
never predict importance.
“For example: for us to actually effect change regarding healthcare, we will need to have a pretty massive uprising of pissed off people – enough for the elected officials to hear what we have to say”
I beleive Obama, is now truly ‘hearing’ what the people want. Have you been reading the news?
Obama is caving on the ‘option’!
WEAK!
This is why GWB had such a drop in ratings. The President isn’t here to represent the people. He is here to lead them. If he can’t effectivly persuade the people to go for his plan… then he has failed.
GWB in his second term started apologizing and back peddling. WEAK. It shows uncertainty in your moral grounds.
THATS why the media found it so easy to eat him up.
Obama should watch out for the same if he’s to acheive anything. It’s a little early for another lame duck President.