As most of you know, today, the 4th of July, is the day we Americans celebrate our independence and the birth of our nation. I had thought to write about some of our glorious victories and extoll our men and women in the armed forces; to look back at some of our history and revel in the accomplishments of our forefathers. Surely, these are notions worthy of poem, prose, songs and speeches. But, as I worked through these thoughts, I found that they were inadequate expressions.
The guardians of our nation only tell part of the story. Indeed, it is their purpose to jealously guard the notion and idea we’ve come to know as the United States of America. You see, the U.S. isn’t simply some piece of land. It isn’t simply some population. It isn’t just military conquest or a bit of history or the sacrifices many have paid for it.
It is an idea. It is a cause, a notion, which makes all of the things I can mention worthy of the sacrifices. The history, victories, defeat; the people and the land and the words and many more things which go well beyond the eloquence I possess to articulate.
While many people would say that this notion, this cause is uniquely American, it is not. America is one of many manifestations of the cause and we see that the seeds of the cause were planted centuries before the birth of this nation. So, while Americans celebrate our independence from British rule, we should also celebrate the idea passed to us by our bonds with the British. The Magna Carta Libertatum is perhaps one of the larger wells from which we draw this cause, this idea. The water from that spring is as pure and sweet as any other idea in the history of mankind. This common gift to humanity is part of our heritage. The legacy of such a notion lives to this day and for eternity, God willing.
But, this isn’t the only well of the spring from which we drink . Great people throughout the world and it’s history has brought us to this cause. Indeed, myself and millions others today and before us understand this nation came to be through Providence, the spring of life itself. His guiding hand surely is the one which brought Baron von Steuben and Lafayette together for the same cause. Of course, before and after our independence, we see that it wasn’t simply a bunch of generals and aristocrats which compromise the agents of this idea. Before and after independence, they came here. They came here to freely practice their worship of God, they came here to escape tyranny, poverty, despair. They came here for the promise of prosperity. The came here for the notion, the idea, the cause. To this day, they still come, millions come hoping to drink from this spring.
This notion hasn’t been easy to maintain. But, it is the struggle to maintain it which makes us secure in our knowledge that it is worth guarding. It is worth even the ultimate sacrifice which so many have paid. Our forefathers knew and understood this. Their admonishments towards diligence and vigilance has been frequent. The warnings of the cost has been loud and clearly stated, and most of all, it has been demonstrated. Indeed, the greatest threat we’ve ever seen to this notion and cause sprung form the question of how best to keep this cause. The cost of that terrible question was great and the legacy of that question still lingers 150 years later. Even still, they came hoping to drink from the spring.
It is that they came which brands this nation, this hope, this idea, as unique. Peoples of all nations have come to drink from this well. Like the various metals merged to make steel, people of all persuasions merge to make the metal of the people of this country.
The beginning of the last century marked a new recognition in the consciousness of this nation. While our path to this cause had been chosen so long ago, other people and nations were choosing different paths. We recognized our duties to help the peoples pursue this cause outside the confines of our borders. The efforts have been difficult and clumsy, often executed improperly and with little forethought, but the idea, the notion, the cause remains clear.
While we Americans jealously guard this notion, this idea, this cause, we see that it isn’t ours and ours alone. It is all of mankind’s cause. It wasn’t ours to begin with, we simply embraced it, as did millions of others throughout the world! From every corner of the world this cause is proclaimed as the ultimate cause of mankind! Sometimes it is only thought, sometimes only whispered, sometimes shouted, often, still, even to the judgment seat of God. Yet, it is still proclaimed around the world.
Today, we find that some of us have been less than diligent. The enemies of this cause are gathering from within and without. Our tensile will always be tested. Our emblem is threadbare and worn, the colors have become faded a bit. But, we’ve been forged in the fires which sloth, tyranny, hopelessness and despair brings. And we’ve walked through it before. Each time making the colors and the stars sharper, the golden tassels shine brighter. The dross is scraped off and discarded to the trash heap of history.
We shall renew our commitment to vigilance and continue to prepare against the enemies of our cause. Be secure in the knowledge that this is the righteous path, for free will is the Will of God!
Our cause: The right for all men to walk in dignity without the chains of servitude, to be free from tyranny, despotism, and the malevolent passions of others, to be at liberty to govern ourselves and freely conduct our affairs; to determine our own goals and to be the captains of our own destiny. This is the spring from which we all drink. The spring is eternal! So draw deep and fill our cups, go out give sup to the ones who thirst. Lead them back to the well of freedom and liberty!
I’ll borrow is this thought; where freedom lives, there are our countries. So, if you are of this nation or not, please join with us in this anniversary celebration. It isn’t just our celebration, it is a unique manifestation of this notion, this idea, this cause!
God Bless all and God Bless America,
James
Reblogged this on Climate Ponderings.
Sadly, our nation is led by a man that wants to rewrite history and the Declaration of Independence all in one speech.
First, he rewrites history claiming that before the USA was founded, it was home to both the British and Mexicans. The problem is there were no Mexicans before the USA was founded in 1776. Modern day Mexico was called New Spain until it declared its independence in 1810 and gained it in 1821 following the Spanish Mexican war. There’s a slight problem with dates.
Then, while quoting from the Declaration of Independence, where it says “endowed by their Creator” he changed the line to “endowed with certain unalienable rights.” Before anyone claims he misspoke, let’s not forget he was reading from a teleprompter. You can see him pause while he figures out how to reword the offending quote.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/09/21/obama_mexicans_were_here_long_before_america_was_even_an_idea.html
The dross will be removed to the trash heap of history. He is an insult to every American, past, present, and future.
Happy Birthday America… 🙂
Happy Independance day to all you Americans.
James Totally agree with the point about the English and look at how many of their ex colonies are currently successful countries compared to the countries that were French, Spanish and Portugese colonies.
It’s difficult not to see it when one looks around the globe. What amazes me is how, in all of these successful countries, we see apologists for the success, and they view all cultures as equal. The U.S. has a proud and distinct culture and heritage, and yet, we embrace multiculturalism. It drives me nuts sometimes.