Saturday, July 4, 2009

To begin the world all over again...



31 Posts in 31 Days: #4


"The birthday of a new world is at hand...we have it within our power to begin the world all over again."
--- Thomas Paine



In between the parades and the fireworks and the barbeques today, I wanted to take just a minute to write a few thoughts about this day.

Independence Day.

This is one of my favorite days of the year. This is the day when we celebrate our American-ness. This is the day when we honor the independent spirit -- the spirit that says "My destiny is my own."




I think sometimes we confuse the American Revolution with the Revolutionary War. They are not the same thing, the war was simply a byproduct of the revolution. And this day, we celebrate the Revolution.

The American Revolution was, simply, an idea, so elegant today, so radical in 1776. It was the idea that all men are created equal. That their Creator endowed them with unalienable rights, to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That's the revolution.

That is the notion that turned empire on it's head -- the statement that set the world aflame.

Freedom is the natural state of man, but that doesn't mean it comes cheaply. Nothing worth having ever does. The preservation of liberty counts cost in lives. Sometimes those lives are given on the battlefield, but more often they are given in diligence. Freedom is tenuous and easily lost.

The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.

We each lay our lives on the altar of Liberty.





We exercise our rights, to see that they remain strong.

We emulate our forefathers, and we stand as an example to our own children. The greatest work you will ever do as an American, is to teach your children -- to raise the next generation of patriots.

Teach them the be responsible with their rights.

Teach them to love liberty.

Teach them to think for themselves.

Teach them to work hard.

Teach them to be humble.

Teach them to leave our nation better than they find it.

Teach them to be independent.

Teach them to be Free.


Happy Independence Day!

5 comments:

Aaron said...

I hate saying 'Happy 4th of July'......

It isn't the '4th' we celebrate...but the independence.

Perhaps it's fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom... Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution... but from annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: "We will not go quietly into the night!" We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!

It may be corny....but it makes you cry too.

Pam Emmons said...

I was excited to see what you were going to write today. I love taking my history lessons from you. And leave it to Aaron to quote the movie. Well done, Aaron.
Now I'm thinking I should go rent that movie.

Kristen said...

Hey, I'm glad you tracked us down. You must have found us from the Brenchley's blog? (FYI - we know them because Ryan and Kennedy are the same age, had classes at Farmington Elem. together, and have been good friends. Kyle and Taiden are friends too)

Anyway, I loved reading some of your posts and seeing your amazing pictures. You're so talented!

It will be fun to keep up with what the Thornblad family is doing- seeing how you guys live HOURS AWAY and we never see you!

Michelle said...

Happy 4th of July.

Aaron said...

uh....it't 9:35 and no blog for the 5th....tick tick tick...clock waits for no one.