July Fourth
Posted in Current Events by John E. Pannell on July 4th, 2008 at 12:01 am The fourth day of July is not just an ordinary day to those living in the United States of America. It is not just an excuse to have a cook out or to try to blow off appendages by mishandling explosive devices. July 4th marks the day that the 13 British colonies in North America declared independence from Great Britain and formed the United States of America.
On this day the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. On this day we celebrate Independence Day.
This Declaration was largely the work of a young Virginian named Thomas Jefferson. After numerous revisions and deletions, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776. It has since been recognized as one of the greatest written documents of Western Civilization, a great expression of the ideals of the Age of Enlightenment. It has inspired numerous rebellions and revolutions in the 232 years since its adoption.
After the break a then-young US Senator, speaking on July 4th, 1957, reminds us of these immortal words.
It used to be more commonplace for the Declaration of Independence to be recited on this day. That is no longer so.
It is remarkable that Jefferson’s words are still applicable today. It can be argued that some of the charges levied against King George III can be applied to our government today. Sadly, that has become the state of our country today. Among the least controversial of these is the following charge:
“…He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance…”
Does this not sound like our contemporary bureaucracy? Does this not describe the growth of our ever-expansive Federal government?
Let us remember the ideals of our Founding Fathers. Do not let them be forgotten or abandoned.
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