Independence Day

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.

Today is a very important day in the history of the United States.

July 4, 1776 is considered to be the birthdate of this country. 13 colonies of people who came across the Atlantic, to leave their opressive King of England, to come here and opress and slaugher the inhabitents that were already here.

Oops... yea... that isnt in any history book that is taught in our schools.

What is also not in there is that THIS declaration of "independence" only applied to White, Male, Landowners. As did the constitution. Why else would there be the need to add amendments to include people of color and women????

Granted. I'm blessed beyond riches that I was born an American. Since I come from a family of immigrants, I could have easily been born behind the Iron Curtain in Hungary. Instead, I was born in the land of opportunity and the land of great wealth.

I was able to have a great education (both private school and public school), I have had the opportunity to go to college, I have a fantasic (albit quite shaky) job as a Journeyman Millwright in an auto factory, I have the opportunity to attend law school this fall, and due to dh and I loving overtime when it was available, we were able to adopt 4 wonderful, fantasic children. We are blessed to be able to put a comfortable roof over their heads, put food in their bellies, and now put them in the posistion to have every oportunity that we have had and hopefully even more.

Today, I remember those who have set out to make these things possible. Not necessarly the founding "fathers" of this country... but the ones to set out to change the injustices that have saddled this country since its founding. Lincoln, Anthony, King, Randolf, Reuther and many, many others, along with those who today are still fighting the good fight.