Happy Independence Weekend!
Do you realize that Independence Day is the only American holiday that's celebrated on its actual calendar date? You may have Monday off, if you work for a particularly progressive company, but Sunday is the actual holiday. Christmas is always December 25, and New Year's Day is always January 1, but those aren't particularly American, now are they? And Halloween isn't a holiday. (For Halloween, substitute Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Flag Day, et al.) But MLK Day (Civil/Human Rights Day in New Hampshire and Utah), President's Day (now that they jammed Washington and Lincoln together. We used to have TWO holidays, people!), Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day - all Mondays. Thanksgiving is the holdout, but it's on its own schedule. Even Administrative Assistants' Day (once Sexetaries' Day) is the Wednesday before the last Saturday in April, rather than a specific date. You can't celebrate the 4th of July on any day but July 4th.
Other than that, Independence Day is a holiday that you know everything about. You probably know that not everyone signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4. In fact, no one did, but that's the day the final version of the document was adopted by the Second Continental Congress. (The resolution that led to the writing of the Declaration did not pass until July 2, although Jefferson and company were appointed to compose it on June 10.) By the following year, the 4th was being celebrated, and in 1783, the year the Revolution ended, it was made an official holiday. It has always been celebrated the way it is today, as John Adams predicted it would be, "as the great anniversary festival ... it ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other."
It's hard to be patriotic these days. It's not hard to love the country, but it's hard to raise the flag, as that puts you in league with people of such questionable nature. Patriotism has been co-opted by the "Love It or Leave It" crowd, and criticizing the officials who temporarily hold power is likely to get you branded a traitor. These small minded people forget that the most patriotic duty a citizen can undertake is to challenge the government. They forget what Jefferson wrote, that "Governments are instituted among Men" to secure their rights, "deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." In these increasingly bureaucratic times, it is easy to lose sight that power does, indeed, lie with the people. Communication is supposed to be a two way proposition, not just from the Government to us, but from us to the Government. To accept the will of the Government blindly is contrary to Jefferson's cause. Furthermore, "whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it." It is the genius of the Constitution to assure that, despite the efforts of gerrymandering Texans, elected positions are indeed temporary, and the People have the right (if they exercise it) to alter or abolish the Government regularly.
True Treason is assuming that those who disagree with you love the country less than you do.
For those of you uncomfortable with Independence Day - perhaps for reasons I've outlined above, perhaps for reasons of your own - let me suggest an alternative.
We all have things from which we would like to be independent (a bad habit, a bad family, a bad president) or from which we have recently become independent (a bad job, a bad car, a bad spouse). Use this opportunity to celebrate dissolving those bands, political or other, which have connected you with another person, place or thing, and oppressed you in whatever way. Assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle you. Celebrate your own independence, or make plans to become more independent. Recognize and cherish your Life, your Fortune, and your sacred Honor.
That ain't half bad.
Other than that, Independence Day is a holiday that you know everything about. You probably know that not everyone signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4. In fact, no one did, but that's the day the final version of the document was adopted by the Second Continental Congress. (The resolution that led to the writing of the Declaration did not pass until July 2, although Jefferson and company were appointed to compose it on June 10.) By the following year, the 4th was being celebrated, and in 1783, the year the Revolution ended, it was made an official holiday. It has always been celebrated the way it is today, as John Adams predicted it would be, "as the great anniversary festival ... it ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other."
It's hard to be patriotic these days. It's not hard to love the country, but it's hard to raise the flag, as that puts you in league with people of such questionable nature. Patriotism has been co-opted by the "Love It or Leave It" crowd, and criticizing the officials who temporarily hold power is likely to get you branded a traitor. These small minded people forget that the most patriotic duty a citizen can undertake is to challenge the government. They forget what Jefferson wrote, that "Governments are instituted among Men" to secure their rights, "deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." In these increasingly bureaucratic times, it is easy to lose sight that power does, indeed, lie with the people. Communication is supposed to be a two way proposition, not just from the Government to us, but from us to the Government. To accept the will of the Government blindly is contrary to Jefferson's cause. Furthermore, "whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it." It is the genius of the Constitution to assure that, despite the efforts of gerrymandering Texans, elected positions are indeed temporary, and the People have the right (if they exercise it) to alter or abolish the Government regularly.
True Treason is assuming that those who disagree with you love the country less than you do.
For those of you uncomfortable with Independence Day - perhaps for reasons I've outlined above, perhaps for reasons of your own - let me suggest an alternative.
We all have things from which we would like to be independent (a bad habit, a bad family, a bad president) or from which we have recently become independent (a bad job, a bad car, a bad spouse). Use this opportunity to celebrate dissolving those bands, political or other, which have connected you with another person, place or thing, and oppressed you in whatever way. Assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle you. Celebrate your own independence, or make plans to become more independent. Recognize and cherish your Life, your Fortune, and your sacred Honor.
That ain't half bad.
posted by John Bliss at
10:16 AM
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