My Opinion/Observation Of The Fourth Of July And Our Founding Father’s

[Poppy]

Everyone pretty much knows the textbook history of the founding of our country (United States). There’s tidbits of other ancillary side notes…good, bad and ugly but there’s an overarching theme I can’t let go. I’ve had it on my mind since I was a young lad walking to the school house in the snow, heat, torrential rains…uphill… both ways.

Our founding fathers were, by and large, citizens in the upper echelons of society (at least at that time). The King of England was the ruler and the founding fathers were all doing well under that regime.

My point being was that the heavy hitters that signed the constitution were living a good life…financially and otherwise. They did NOT have to participate, condone, help, push (in) the revolution. They would have done just fine under the continuing rule of the King and the current status quo.

They, basically, gambled everything to include summary execution (treason to the crown) to break free of the tyranny. They didn’t have to but they did for the good of the general population…and the “F” word…FREEDOM. Keep in mind… the brits were the superpower and had a standing army/navy that was extremely formidable AND global. Back then, they were “us” now.

Fast forward to now… more than ever, the architects of the US Constitution were geniuses and had more forethought than any of our leaders in modern history…except for RWR (who’s that?) and possibly JFK.

Our politicians (most) running this country (not leading by any stretch of the imagination) are in it for their own personal gain and could care less about the citizens.

 

[John]

Spot on @Poppy

 

[Rusty]

Agreed 100 percent.

 

[herrubermensch]

Agreed. A refreshing read. In my neck of the woods, all I hear about is the 1619 Project and similar nonsense.

 

[Poppy]

I have an opinion on slavery and such…it’s ugly business. No way to explain or candy coat it. BUT we can’t look at events and culture that took place hundreds of years ago through todays lens. There’s no telling what we’re doing today that will be considered barbaric and ghastly 1, 2…3 hundred years from now.

My message to those (US citizens) that are looking for pity (and monetary gain) for something that happened centuries ago is: turn your ire to the modern day slave masters in Africa or just about anywhere in those sh*thole continents/countries. It’s still happening wholesale…but I guess there’s no fortune to be gained from abolishing slavery globally.

 

[Poppy]

Here is an article from our local rag. Very interesting with some stats.

A collapsing economy, out-of-control inflation, accusations of fraudulent elections, hyped investigations, increasing threats to our national security and a subsequent malaise felt by the nation’s voters make for a strong backdrop as the country prepares to celebrate its 246th birthday Monday. But the country has faced similar challenges over the past two-and-a half centuries with success and so we should not be discouraged, but instead take this week’s celebration to review our rich history that came at great cost to the founders of our nation.

The 56 appointed representatives of the then 13 colonies had spent much of 1776 debating, at times with intensity that challenged their personal relationships, on the future of the colonies and their relationship with Mother England. By the end of June, after weeks of writing and re-writing, the colonial delegates were finally prepared to take a vote on a Declaration of Independence, which everyone hoped would be unanimous. Several delegates anticipated that once the declaration of separation from England became known it would result in rapprochement, a resumption of harmonious relations, but that was not to be.

The date set aside for recognition of this historic event- recognized as America’s birthday- has been established as July 4. The first vote for this decision was conducted on July 2 and possibly reconfirmed – there is some dispute about this date- on July 4. Four days later, Monday July 8, the Declaration was read aloud to a very receptive audience assembled at the State House Yard in Philadelphia. Yet the document was not official until all the signatures were concluded on August 2, 1776.

David McCullough, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, notes in his book John Adams that “… it was the eloquent lines of the second paragraph of the Declaration that would stand down the years, affecting the human spirit as neither Jefferson nor any could have foreseen.”

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.

And despite major editing by the other members of the Continental Congress, McCullough concludes that, “they were, when all said and done, his lines. It was Jefferson who had written them for all time:”

After listing a litany of complaints with the King of England and Parliament, the Declaration of Independence ends with these very prescient words: “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.”

Singer and entertainer Michael W. Smith has researched what happened to the signers of the Declaration, concluding they did so with a clear understanding that they were putting their lives and treasure on the line.

“Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the revolutionary army, another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War,” Smith recounts.

“They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners, men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured,” he concludes.

As we celebrate this Independence Day we should step back and reflect on current events that have included, and aggressively promoted, the purification of our history. The result of this purification has resulted in efforts to diminish if not erase the work and sacrifice of our founders.

No, the men who toiled at great personal cost during the birthing of this great country were not perfect. In fact, they acknowledged this as seen in official documents, personal records and diaries. But their imperfection did not stop them from aspiring to a higher goal.

It is ironic that our efforts to correct past mistakes are actually promoted and facilitated by the genius that is articulated in our Declaration of Independence. The very individuals who are now being removed from our nation’s stage, Thomas Jefferson being the most notable, are the very source for our opportunities and in the process, 246 years later, still offer wise guidance for the future.

This week we should proudly celebrate the birth of the greatest political experiment in human history that is setting the path for a free world. In the process of this celebration we should acknowledge with grateful hearts, the gift and hard work of so many forward thinking leaders that are our founders.

 

[JLee]

Well said