07-03-2015, 08:41 AM
Each July 2nd, I bore my friends with the below two brief stories. This year, I thought I'd also bore the readers of this forum, too, albeit, one day late. (I don't think they even teach American history any longer, do they?)
When I think "America," I don't think about the land (as wondrous as it is) and I don't think about government (as oppressive as it's become); to me, it's all about Liberty, Freedom, and Individual Choice.
I also think of how amazing it was, at that moment in history, that the group known as the Founders, sons of the Enlightenment, just happened to be the ones who wrote the charter for this nation.
Can you imagine how long this nation would've lasted had the dimwits now in charge been the ones in Philadelphia in 1776?
Story the First
Once upon a time, there were a group of people who sought to control their own destiny. They wanted painters to be able to paint what they wanted, and not what some nasty government wanted them to paint. They wanted writers to be able to write what they wanted, and not what some nasty government wanted them to write. They wanted the creators to be able to create what they wanted, and not what some nasty government wanted them to create. They also wanted independence from Great Britain.
In June of 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced a resolution declaring, in part, this independence from King George, et al.
On July 2nd, Lee's Resolution was voted on and approved.
The events of this day so moved future president John Adams that he wrote the following to his wife, Abigail, on July 3rd:
The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, 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 Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
However, the text formally announcing the break with England, the Declaration of Independence, was approved two days later, on July 4th, and it was this date that has been celebrated, not the 2nd. A few of us holdouts still celebrate on the 2nd.
Story the Second
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two of the most important Founders, were colleagues, then bitter enemies, and in their later years, close friends. They also took part in one of History's most amazing coincidences.
On July 4th, 1826, exactly 50 years to the day since the Declaration of Independence was approved, John Adams lie upon his deathbed. His last words were, "Jefferson lives!"
Unbeknownst to Adams, a few hours earlier, also on July 4th, 1826, Thomas Jefferson had also died.
![[Image: Thomas-Jefferson-and-John-Adams.jpg?9f56cd]](http://www.thepoliticalinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Thomas-Jefferson-and-John-Adams.jpg?9f56cd)
When I think "America," I don't think about the land (as wondrous as it is) and I don't think about government (as oppressive as it's become); to me, it's all about Liberty, Freedom, and Individual Choice.
I also think of how amazing it was, at that moment in history, that the group known as the Founders, sons of the Enlightenment, just happened to be the ones who wrote the charter for this nation.
Can you imagine how long this nation would've lasted had the dimwits now in charge been the ones in Philadelphia in 1776?
Story the First
Once upon a time, there were a group of people who sought to control their own destiny. They wanted painters to be able to paint what they wanted, and not what some nasty government wanted them to paint. They wanted writers to be able to write what they wanted, and not what some nasty government wanted them to write. They wanted the creators to be able to create what they wanted, and not what some nasty government wanted them to create. They also wanted independence from Great Britain.
In June of 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced a resolution declaring, in part, this independence from King George, et al.
On July 2nd, Lee's Resolution was voted on and approved.
The events of this day so moved future president John Adams that he wrote the following to his wife, Abigail, on July 3rd:
The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, 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 Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
However, the text formally announcing the break with England, the Declaration of Independence, was approved two days later, on July 4th, and it was this date that has been celebrated, not the 2nd. A few of us holdouts still celebrate on the 2nd.
Story the Second
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two of the most important Founders, were colleagues, then bitter enemies, and in their later years, close friends. They also took part in one of History's most amazing coincidences.
On July 4th, 1826, exactly 50 years to the day since the Declaration of Independence was approved, John Adams lie upon his deathbed. His last words were, "Jefferson lives!"
Unbeknownst to Adams, a few hours earlier, also on July 4th, 1826, Thomas Jefferson had also died.