“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….! ” by the Signers of the Declaration of Independence
We are celebrating in the USA this weekend, our “Independence Day”. Perhaps as citizens we should all pause briefly to contemplate the extraordinary, the significance, and the priceless benefits we enjoy with our freedoms. The celebration goes far beyond the usual
parades, picnics, hamburgers, hot dogs, and beers. Oh that is all good but there is much more to celebrate. “Independence Day” is a 24/7 and 365 day celebration. “Independence Day” started our country’s first freedom march. Independence Day caused our country’s first freedom war and it resulted in our country’s first freedom victory. And, the freedom fight centered around the concept that “all men are created equal” and that as a people our lives, our liberties, and efforts to achieve personal happiness are all unalienable rights. These concepts do not show up on the 4th of July and leave us on the 5th of July. These concepts of freedom are part of our lives each day as citizens of the USA. Now, we may differ in our viewpoints and we can debate how much progress has been made for ensuring the freedoms for “all” of our citizens.
But on this day, the point is that we have the “right” to have different views and the right to debate. We have the freedom to hold different views and the freedom to express these while recognizing the rights of others.
Therefore, in my opinion, without those “founding fathers” putting it all on the line in 1776, to form a new government and proclaim “independence”, and without the men and women willing to fight to preserve this independence, today would likely not be a day of celebration and it would not matter much if we had differing viewpoints. It’s Independence Day!
As we celebrate the 4th of July and all of the freedoms we enjoy, let’s celebrate another birthday for my life long friend, Curtis “Duck” Montgomery who is now 101 years young. As a World War II veteran, he is still going strong and I continue to salute him, along with the Founding Fathers who believed in independence. “Duck”…Another HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISH from the “Friends of Copey”. PS: This week is also my dear Aunt Christine’s 90th birthday…HAPPY BIRTHDAY from all the “Friends”.
In closing, this is my third 4th of July being a Blogger. I have grown to appreciate the value of freedom as I try each week to share information, express my views, exercise my rights to life, liberty, and my pursuit of happiness. “Friends of Copey” has become a big part of this freedom I enjoy. Equally important, your affiliation with “Friends of Copey” is part of the freedom you enjoy. And together, “we are free to show our concern, express our hope, and demonstrate our commitment to a community outside of the USA…!”
“God Bless America”