Many are declaring that they are independents this year, most as a protest because (gasp) a black man defeated their candidate who happened to be the first woman presidential candidate, at least one for a major party. (If anyone else had been their candidate there would be cries of racism but hey these so called Democrats are not bigots, they would never stoop to racist remarks, but supporting a Black man for President is going a bit to far).
How do these so called declarations of independence compare to that one 221 years ago?
On the one hand its the same spirit of freedom that caused many to do this, but it carries none of the burdens that our forefathers faced when they produced and signed this historic document. Those forefathers pledged their lives, and fortunes to see this new independent FREE nation become a reality. Today its for entirely different and selfish reasons, and for some its just a temper tantrum. No comparison at all.
It was 221 years ago on May 14th in 1787 that delegates first began to meet in Philadelphia to start writing a new Constitution for the country. They kept the deliberations a secret as they abandoned the previous Articles of Confederation in order to fundamentally change the way the new country would come together. It took them just over four months to finish redesigning the foundation of the United States of America. Why do we not celebrate this as well?
But July 4th is not the correct date for Independence Day, it is actually on July 2nd. The 'Pennsylvania Evening Post', on July second, 1776 printed:
"This day the Continental Congress declared the United colonies Free and Independent States"
It was not until the 4th of July that everyone adopted the Declaration of Independence. Philadelphia had a celebration with a parade on July 8.
"The second of July will be the most memorable Epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary Festival" John Adams in a letter home on July third 1776.
What is truly amazing is the spirit of the Progressives in this country yet today, who have their first candidate for President in decades, one who can fulfill the long pent up desires for freedom, equality and a return to the American Dream, however much it may be distorted. These forward looking Progressives are working hard to make Barack Obama our next President and the first Progressive President in a long time. Darn if we don't have an idea that the government should work for the public's economic well-being. That our President should be righting the wrongs that have accumulated against We The People by the present and past Presidents. Wrongs such as in Immigration, Environment, Social Security, Medical Care and so on.....
And yet like the Tories of the 1770's there are other Democrats whose candidate lost and are now threatening to either switch parties or not vote. And still other American's that see the Billions of Dollars wasted on an unpopular war, an illegal war, they see the $23 Billion that has been losted, embezzled or just plain stolen since the beginning of the Iraq War, and they see the $4 and $5 price of a gallon of gasoline at the pumps and they go into a dazed state, they don't seem to care, they go to their jobs and live their lives not stiring the pot of politics, not complaining of the hand of Big Oil in their pocket, not standing up against the destruction of the Constitution and our Rights as citizens.
If they think for one minute that they will be doing anything but supporting the tyrannical ways of George W. Bush, John McCain and the Republican Party, then they are to be pitied for they evidently don't have the necessary facilitates to think in a rational manner.
Recently there was a wedding at a new Winery, one of many that have popped up here in Southern Illinois in recent years, It was an all day affair. Culminating in a magnificent fireworks display that far surpassed anything I had seen put on by Local, City, or County governments. Why I wondered was the celebration of this coupling of man and woman a much bigger to do than the one that is put on by rote in the local area each 4th of July to Celebrate the creation of this the first nation of its kind the world had ever seen?
Before you jump in and say the bride's father must have more money than the government to afford such a celebration. Let me assure you this is not so. We estimated that he spent between $30-$40 for each of the 250 guests on fireworks alone. Compare this to the $3-4 spent per resident of our County seat. Better yet, compare this celebration cost of a wedding to the $570 per every man, woman and child in America that George Bush and his administration recently received approval to spend to further their celebration of the Fleecing of Iraq not to mention the American People.
If you had any doubts, the recent Report of Iraq spelled it out in black and white, every thing that the Republicans have been working for since January 20th, 2000 came to a satisfactory conclusion with the granting of lucrative, exclusive contracts for oil in Iraq by none other than Exxon-Mobile (America's Champion of Greed), BP (Britain's Champion of Greed) and Shell Oil Company ( The Multi-National Champion of Greed) all of which was done without the benefit of competitive bidding. The fact that these same companies have posted enormous record breaking profits at the expense of the American People, should demonstrate to any thinking person about the collusion of the Administration and Big Oil, about the price fixing that is going on in the Petroleum industry. What this country needs is another trust busting President in the ilk of Teddy Roosevelt. We need Barack Obama.
It's time to get past petty sniping that the Clinton supporters are now engaged in, time to get past talk without action, get past token support without buying in.
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When we get together this Friday, and eat BBQ, hotdogs, and watermelon, when we see the wondrous bursting of fireworks across the evening sky, will we be thinking of those founding fathers of whom we owe so much, or will we be thinking about what is on the TV tonight. For me the choice will be simple.