Here’s to the Founding Fathers, here’s to America, and here’s to 250 years. We might not be a perfect nation, but we’re a damn sight better than others throughout the world.
Make sure you stay safe and have enough fingers to sign in and comment after the holiday weekend. Until Monday, I leave you with this:
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, 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.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
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.
Like Trump said “best country ever”.
Well, that certainly makes me feel better. 🙄
And to those that dont like it, GET THE FU_K OUT!
🙄
As Grizzard said, Delta is ready when you are.
“We must all hang together or we will all hang separately”.
Thanks for posting the text of the Declaration. I hope the Refugees will take the time to read it, even if they have read it before. It’s good to have a reminder of the reasons for declaring independence.
Sadly they’ll probably just listen to the song. A full reading and understanding of the text would require a hard swallow a great deal of cope:
“He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.”
“He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices”
“He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.”
“For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States”
“For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent”
“He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us“
“A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”
The message of the Founders’ text is that a free people require a servant of the people, not someone desirous of being served and lauded by the people.
Its a Republic…if we can keep it.
Have we allowed the Rubicon to be irretrievably crossed?
No doubt Lee Greenwood holds the answer…
Well, for me, on this Shabbos and 250th Anniversary, I’ll roll with John Cash:
Who is “He”?
Are you also confused about “we?”
No. You typed “He”. I asked who is “He” ?
I didn’t “type” He. I cut and pasted it from the original text above which you didn’t bother to read.
This guy:
I didn’t “type” He. I cut and pasted it from the original text above which you didn’t bother to read.
You know who he means. The TDS is strong in this one.
👍👍
I couldn’t help noticing the contrast between the message of Johnny Cash’s Ragged Old Flag and the singer who sings about how Johnny would get beaten up if he talked about the flag being ragged in that singer’s small town.
There’s the substantive and then there’s the superficial.
Another John made the point;
Aw Derek, you can take a break from being a dick head three times a year. The Fourth, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.😆.
Some people aint happy unless they’re miserable and trying to get other folks to join them.
It’s not a one way street.
You can get on the same train, sugar britches.😆
Yawn…..
ECCLESIASTES 7:4
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Always a hoot when a guy who favors the party of abortion quotes the Bible at me.😆
You shall be known by your fruits. Think about that next time you want to moralize and quiet scripture to anybody. With your track record around here you best take care of the beam in your own eye.
And with that Im done with politics, religion, and you two clowns. Time to go have some fun. Go Dawgs.
I know you’re having a good time, Mike. I understand the lesson.
Your moral superiority is underwhelming without any proof.
Religion is about an individual relationship with their God.
Politics is about ALL citizens’ relationship with their government.
Those who figure out that distinction occasionally find themselves in the House of Sorrow. Those incapable of figuring out that separation, and why the founders insisted upon it, can be found in a tub of mirth giggling at the bubbles.
I for one, Love the USA. We have flaws,but still the greatest country in the world. I will continue to support our country and will always respect Old Glory. I still get chills and teary eyed when the National Anthem is played and sung at Sanford Stadium. Hope l never lose that feeling! God Bless America!!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Perfect post.
Happy birthday United States of America.
Happy 250th Independence (or Treason) Day!
It has been interesting how people who have come here for the World Cup are amazed at our people, our land, our patriotism, and our way of life (who knew Texas Roadhouse would become a phenomenon for foreign tourists). I’ve seen so many people who have said they owe Americans an apology for what they thought coming here and then what they have experienced while here. By the way, Southerners get the highest marks for hospitality, friendliness and caring.
America is an idea and a people. Entering an election season, let’s not forget that. We have our differences, but they shouldn’t divide us as we have a lot more in common than not.
As other have said, when the Redcoats form the Arch and play the Alma Mater and the Star Spangled Banner, I get goosebumps and my pride as an American, a native-born Georgian and a Dawg comes through.
Some,people just can’t help themselves. God Bless America.
Please leave personal politics out of today’s posts please.
Is this comment meant as a preemptive strike or has someone posted something that’s objectionable?
Preemptive only. Thanks for asking I should have been clear.
You are too late
In fairness, we made it all the way to the very first comment.
We’re number 1!
Hell yeah. Happy 4th, everybody.
Don’t forget that two great American Patriots, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the same day July the 4th 1826, our 50th anniversary of the signing. Happy 4th everybody.
Timinsav
I didn’t know that. Thank you for sharing.
Great post. Remember, complaining about the government is how we got here in the first place. Complaining about the government doesn’t mean you hate America.
That all seems to depend on who’s running it at the time.
God bless this wonderful country. God bless this wonderful blog. And God bless all you Daegs here and elsewhere.
God bless the USA and even God bless those living here illegally that protest the things we love about the USA. I hope God blesses those living here illegally that protest the things we love about the USA harshly. So harshly that they go back to their home country and make a living for themselves there and help others there.
Most of the people I’ve met that are illegal are not protesting or complaining about the US. They are just here to work for a better life. Much the same reason my great, great grandfather came here from Ireland.
https://www.history.com/articles/when-america-despised-the-irish-the-19th-centurys-refugee-crisis
That was like different and stuff cause like you know things or whatever….
“Time is a flat circle. Everything we’ve ever done or will do, we’re gonna do over and over and over again.”