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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> The Fourth of July
        
(Message started by: don on Jul 3^rd, 2003, 11:07am)

Title: The Fourth of July
Post by don on Jul 3^rd, 2003, 11:07am

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by CJohnson on Jul 3^rd, 2003, 11:23am

Am I the only one who got the "chills" reading that? There aren't very many things worth killing and dying over, but this is one of them.

PFDANs
-Curtis

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by Live4Fun on Jul 3^rd, 2003, 11:27am

Nope Curtis, you aren't the only one... I get chills and a certain sense of "swelling pride" and makes me want to scream Hell Yeah! and Fuckeneh!

Proud to be an American,

Bryan

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by Jackie on Jul 3^rd, 2003, 12:07pm

Thanks for the reminder, Don.
Many forget what it's really all about......there's a bunch more to it than the fireworks, beer and hot dogs.... :)

Jacks 8)

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by kim on Jul 3^rd, 2003, 1:07pm

Thanks a bunch. Goospimples.

Have a wonderful day all and take a moment to ponder.

Smiles and Hugs to ALL!!!!!!!

FOOTY***********

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by KingOfPain on Jul 3^rd, 2003, 1:29pm

Thank you VERY much, don.

Keeping things in perspective, well done.

Hope you (& everyone else) have a safe & fun holiday weekend.

KingOfPain http://www.frinkian.com/images/smiles/new_usa.gif

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by echo on Jul 3^rd, 2003, 1:42pm

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

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 serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. 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.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free!

It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than parades, beer, picnics, fireworks, and baseball games . . .

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by KingOfPain on Jul 3^rd, 2003, 1:45pm

Thank you echo!

Very nice post. Again, keeping things in perspective.

WTG.

God Bless America.

KingOfPain http://www.frinkian.com/images/smiles/new_usa.gif

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by BruceD on Jul 3^rd, 2003, 1:50pm

Thanks Don & Echo. Too often it's easy to get caught up with having a long weekend that we forget the reason for it in the first place.

Thanks & God Bless
BruceD

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by KingOfPain on Jul 4^th, 2003, 1:41am

Bump

KOP

http://www.frinkian.com/images/smiles/new_usa.gif

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by catlind on Jul 4^th, 2003, 7:46am

Have a wonderful Fourth of July folks :)

Remember those still abroad fighting for our unalienable rights! Sean we are thinking of you! (Ree's son)

http://home.twcny.rr.com/clind/kormemfreedom.jpg

Cat

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by TomM on Jul 4^th, 2003, 7:54am

Don and Echo--you said it all.
Thank you.
TomM

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by tommyD on Jul 4^th, 2003, 8:16am

Great posts, don & echo...

Long Tom Jefferson hit it right on the head... and the bunch of radical troublemakers and traitors (to the Crown) that signed on did risk and sometimes lose everything...

But remember, the job wasn't done. It could have turned out badly, except for two things. George Washington dissuaded a bunch of military types from installing him as King, and a nerdy little fellow name of Jimmy Madison, with the help of a few others, wrote up a surprisingly short document that made the idea last...so far.

American troops made it possible, but remember folks, freedom is really up to us civilians to make it work, day to day...

So if you haven't voted recently, or written your congressman, or helped out with your local government, or marched in demonstrations to protect your rights and freedoms...

...then put down that beer, spit out that hot dog, stop waving that flag, and skip the fireworks show. You still have work to do.

-tommyD

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by TerryS on Jul 4^th, 2003, 8:36am

In Deed we should all give thanks for all the people who have Sacrificed there lives so we can be free. To those that are still in our military fighting in foreign countries so others can also be free.

God bless us all.

TerryS

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by OneEyeBlind on Jul 4^th, 2003, 9:18am

Yea, and my brothers once again put it in to perspective for me. Thanks for the reminder.

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by catlind on Jul 4^th, 2003, 9:42am

I think today is a very good day to let my fellow CH'ers hear my oath:

(I don't get to do it for real yet, gotta wait on my application to go through, but by signing my application way back when I sent it, I acknowledged my willingness and ability to take this oath)

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen;

That I will support and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic;

That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;

That I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law;

That I will perform non-combatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by law;

That I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by law; and

That I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

Happy 4th everyone :)

Cat

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by tommyD on Jul 4^th, 2003, 9:55am

A wonderful oath, Cat. I've never heard it before, even though my mother took it, or something similar, many decades ago.

Maybe us native-born citizens should take it as well...and I wonder how many of us could pass the citizenship test....

Let us know when it's official, Cat, and we'll have a little party.

-tommyD

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by TomM on Jul 4^th, 2003, 3:34pm

on 07/04/03 at 09:42:38, catlind wrote:

You go, Cat!

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by 9erfan on Jul 4^th, 2003, 3:40pm

Happy Fourth to all!

Remember the troops, they still need our prayers!

God Bless America.

virginia

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by MOBster on Jul 4^th, 2003, 3:51pm

Happy 4th of July to ALL Americans and especially CH'ers ;)

Best Wishes,

Michael (MOB)

Title: Re: The Fourth of July
Post by catlind on Jul 5^th, 2003, 11:04am

on 07/04/03 at 09:55:14, tommyD wrote:

Let us know when it's official, Cat, and we'll have a little party.

You bet we'll have a party!! :)

When I finally take my oath in person (in Lincoln NE probably) I plan on putting out an open invitation to my cluster family to attend a celebration :) A mini convention hehe.

Cat