You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.
Happy July 4th!
We had a bit of rain this morning. It started just as I went to get the papers. I swear it was done on purpose, but I don’t know whom to blame. I got wet. The sun is out right now, but the storm is heading our way and will be here in the evening and will stay all night with heavy rain and strong winds. Nothing like Mother Nature dramatically celebrating the 4th of July in her own way.
My American flag waves in the front yard all the time. My Peace Corps flag does too. For today I have bunting hung on the fence and a wooden flag on the gate. I am proud to be an America. It is the greatest country in the world. We aren’t always right in what we do, but we usually do it with the best of intentions, and we welcome dissenters who disagree. Look around. You see Americans from so many different places. Try to describe an American, and you can’t give a physical description. The most ardent Americans are often from somewhere else, people who have chosen to become citizens because they see and appreciate the freedoms we enjoy. We have lived with those freedoms all our lives and sometimes we forget what we have. Today is a day to remember we live in the home of the free and the brave.
On July 4th in 1776, the Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence. They’d been working on it for a couple of days after the draft was submitted on July 2nd and finally agreed on all of the edits and changes.
July 4, 1776, became the date that was included on the Declaration of Independence, and the fancy handwritten copy that was signed in August. It’s also the date that was printed on the Dunlap Broadsides, the original printed copies of the Declaration that were circulated throughout the new nation. So when people thought of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 was the date they remembered.
“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.”
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Tags: American flag, Americans, Declaration of Independence, July 4th, rain and wind
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
July 4, 2014 at 12:47 pm
Happy 4th to everyone! We are continuing to strive as a nation to fulfil the promise of the opening words of the Declarstion of Independance to all our citizines. The miracle of our democratic republic is that no matter how much we may disagree with each other on policy issues we peacefully change our government officials at the ballot box and not at the business end of the barrel of a gun.
July 4, 2014 at 1:03 pm
Bob,
That is such an amazing right: to vote officials in or out of office: no kings, no despots, no dictators.
I watch a documentary about the swearing in of new citizens across the country. One woman was so excited. She said this is the only country on Earth where the pursuit of happiness is a right.
July 5, 2014 at 9:41 am
Happy 4th of July holiday, Kat.
After ‘The Declaration of Independence’ was signed it certainly took African-Americans an awfully long time to earn the right to pursue their happiness though.
“She said this is the only country on Earth where the pursuit of happiness is a right.” . . . She’s obviously unaware of the legacy of Canada, Britain and some of the other Western European nations (that also don’t allow their citizens to prowl the streets, etc. with guns at the ready in their pockets.)
Marie
July 5, 2014 at 10:16 am
Welcome back, Marie!
She meant written into the Declaration of Independence. She is probably quite aware of the legacy of other countries but didn’t notice they guaranteed happiness as part of any written document of freedom.
Yes, it did take them a long while and now an African-American is President.
July 4, 2014 at 2:19 pm
Happy 4th of July!
I’m celebrating the start of my vacation 🙂
Christer.
July 4, 2014 at 2:28 pm
Christer,
Happy vacation! I know you’ve been counting the days!!
July 4, 2014 at 6:01 pm
“We aren’t always right in what we do, but we usually do it with the best of intentions, and we welcome dissenters who disagree.”
I like to think (and hope) that’s still true, but without getting too political, I sometimes wonder. It often seems those who claim to be the most patriotic are sometimes the least tolerant. And it only seems to be getting more and more that way. I’ll just leave it at that.
I’ve wished you this earlier, but now I do so publicly: Happy 4th. Stay safe. Stay dry.
July 4, 2014 at 6:17 pm
im6,
I don’t think patriotism is something you scream about from the treetops. I also think it is tolerance and the belief that America can still be the land of opportunity for people no matter where they are from.
I protested our involvement in Vietnam, went to the wholesale fruit market every Friday at 5 for a year to picket for grape workers and was at Boston Common to march against George Wallace. I have little patience or tolerance for those people who would deny others the right to marriage based on sexual orientation, who picket at abortion clinics and who are so right wing they tip over.
I find that bringing any God into the mix seems to end badly and in many cases in bloodshed.
July 4, 2014 at 6:22 pm
Where’s your “like” button?
July 4, 2014 at 6:32 pm
im6,
They don’t seem to have them here. I think your comment works just fine!
July 4, 2014 at 7:01 pm
Hi Kat,
Happy 4th!
It’s been a quiet one. All our festivities are cancelled or rescheduled. Nobody is out shooting off firecrackers. Well, there was one probably very damp person earlier but he only shot off one firecracker.
Before the rain began the dogs and I had a couple of early walks. We had to do another walk in the rain. Turns out Piki Dog does not like water that falls from the sky and expected me to carry him. Right. I told him the faster he pooped, the faster we could go home. I had a big umbrella. I could stay out there a long time. 🙂 He did his business and practically dragged me back to the house.
I love the quote at the top. That’s us. 🙂
Enjoy the day.
July 4, 2014 at 7:11 pm
Hi Caryn,
Happy 4th to you as well.
It’s quiet here too except for the wind and rain. The rain started around 2 and it is now raining heavily. Gracie was out earlier and sought refuge under the trees. She doesn’t mind the rain all the much while my other dogs had to be pushed or persuaded to go out.
Piki Dog will figure it out in time.
I found that quote a while back and liked it so much I saved it so I could use it today.
Have a great evening!
July 4, 2014 at 7:02 pm
Happy Birthday, America!
Greeting from an also celebrating country. Well, it’s just soccer, but we are happy.
You all have a great 4th of July !
I hope your great Land Of The Free doesn’t turn into a complete mass surveillance state.
July 4, 2014 at 7:13 pm
Birgit,
It isn’t just soccer. It’s the World Cup and Germany won!!
Nothing like a few drones to give life the once over!
July 4, 2014 at 7:38 pm
Congratulations, was there a lot of excitement in Dortmund ? Next up Brazil and they can be had
July 4, 2014 at 8:37 pm
Hedley, didn’t you hear a whole city/nation honking like mad after the game? It was great and exciting though we weren’t on the large public place. We went to the Folk Guitar open stage party in downtown Dortmund where we all watched the whole match together on a big screen before the music could start. Nobody complained, we are a soccer country 😉
Were you able to watch the game?
Wow, Brazil!!!
July 4, 2014 at 9:30 pm
Hi all,
When the flys die from happiness is my kinda day. Happy 4th.
Hope you are safe during the storm, Kat.
Waving,
Lori, Lily and…..
July 4, 2014 at 10:54 pm
Lori,
The rain has stopped but the wind is blowing with some intensity. I’m sure some of the stuff on the deck has been sent flying. I’ll check tomorrow.
Thanks for checking,
Kat and the crew