Received this today via email from GW and thoroughly enjoyed finding out how much I had forgotten. A good way to renew your knowledge and an enlightenment to the trivial yet so important facts of independence.
Try this quiz - Civics 101
Showing posts with label independence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label independence. Show all posts
Monday, October 19, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
When did you last read your Declaration of Independence?
An excerpt of The Declaration of Independence - Transcribed
"IN CONGRESS, July4, 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, Government 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 tight themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed, But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing 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. "
We just celebrated the signing of this tremendous document and the freedoms that it represents. But, let us not forget that with these freedoms, there is responsibilty. The document reads - "it is their right, it is their duty" - nothing in life will be handed to you - you must work for it. The soldiers fighting on foreign soil are doing their jobs - are we doing ours?
"IN CONGRESS, July4, 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, Government 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 tight themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed, But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing 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. "
We just celebrated the signing of this tremendous document and the freedoms that it represents. But, let us not forget that with these freedoms, there is responsibilty. The document reads - "it is their right, it is their duty" - nothing in life will be handed to you - you must work for it. The soldiers fighting on foreign soil are doing their jobs - are we doing ours?
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Happy 4th of July
Freedom
A big Thank You to the men and women who made this country different some 235 years ago. People flock to our country by the millions to participate in the freedoms the country of America offers as they have done for two hundred years. America offers to one and all the security, protection and freedom not found in any other country.
When this country was founded the fathers saw unlimited space for the millions they anticipated escaping the tyranny of the governing bodies of other lands. Not just England, but all of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and so many more. The founding fathers had found a land that could accommodate all and developed a governing body to represent all these different people.
Everyone would have a say in how the government would be run and no body would be told what they could or could not do unless it infringed on the rights of others. The government offered each and every person the protection of life and property.
Freedom of speech was guaranteed as was religion. Everyone could worship as they saw fit - Mormon, Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Muslim, Holiness, Lutheran and all the others - and churches abounded. Following the guidelines of the Ten Commandments, laws were made for the inhabitants of America. Each and every person had input into the making and passing of these laws. The leaders of the country listened to the people and voted, not by what they felt, but what the people expressed to them.
This was a new country, built to escape the power seeking tyranny of old. These people were happy to have a place to escape the threats and control of their old governments. They wanted a place to build new lives and didn't mind working hard. They had worked hard before to line the pockets of previous rulers and governments, while their families did without and suffered greatly.
New businesses were built to trade goods and provide for the new inhabitants of this vast new land. Explorers expanded the boundaries of the new land and people slowly filled the vast spaces of this America while the original inhabitants were pushed into smaller and smaller spaces in an effort to survive.
Where are we today? After only two hundred some years has this America become that which the founding fathers and the first immigrants escaped? Is not the government lining its own pockets at the expense of the working people? How can businesses survive with the taxes required by the government to employ people? What services are needed that require such heavy funding and are those services necessary? Is it necessary for government to take over businesses even if the fail? If a person cannot run a business in a profitable manner, why should the government take them over? Are the people so dependent on working for someone else, they no longer know how to survive by hard work and thinking for themselves? Has government made it so hard for people to start a business, they become frustrated and give up?
This country was founded by people who wanted a chance of making a life without government control. Can we find our way back? Are we looking at a future where a single leader controls our life, our liberty? People, get control of yourself first and then look to having a voice in the running of this country. Don't five up your freedoms on which this vast land of America was founded.
I say yea to the Tea Parties, to the activist who voices their concerns, to anyone who stands up and voices their beliefs. Let's start making the right changes in our own country and quit focusing on the civil uprising on those people who are fighting the tyranny in other countries. There are no new vast lands to which we can escape. There must be a change first in the hearts and minds of each individual and then as a nation.
Thank you to those founding fathers who had a unique concept and had the courage and stamina to go forth and develop the Constitution that establish this great country. Happy fourth of July - the birthday of our nations independence and freedom.
A big Thank You to the men and women who made this country different some 235 years ago. People flock to our country by the millions to participate in the freedoms the country of America offers as they have done for two hundred years. America offers to one and all the security, protection and freedom not found in any other country.
When this country was founded the fathers saw unlimited space for the millions they anticipated escaping the tyranny of the governing bodies of other lands. Not just England, but all of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and so many more. The founding fathers had found a land that could accommodate all and developed a governing body to represent all these different people.
Everyone would have a say in how the government would be run and no body would be told what they could or could not do unless it infringed on the rights of others. The government offered each and every person the protection of life and property.
Freedom of speech was guaranteed as was religion. Everyone could worship as they saw fit - Mormon, Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Muslim, Holiness, Lutheran and all the others - and churches abounded. Following the guidelines of the Ten Commandments, laws were made for the inhabitants of America. Each and every person had input into the making and passing of these laws. The leaders of the country listened to the people and voted, not by what they felt, but what the people expressed to them.
This was a new country, built to escape the power seeking tyranny of old. These people were happy to have a place to escape the threats and control of their old governments. They wanted a place to build new lives and didn't mind working hard. They had worked hard before to line the pockets of previous rulers and governments, while their families did without and suffered greatly.
New businesses were built to trade goods and provide for the new inhabitants of this vast new land. Explorers expanded the boundaries of the new land and people slowly filled the vast spaces of this America while the original inhabitants were pushed into smaller and smaller spaces in an effort to survive.
Where are we today? After only two hundred some years has this America become that which the founding fathers and the first immigrants escaped? Is not the government lining its own pockets at the expense of the working people? How can businesses survive with the taxes required by the government to employ people? What services are needed that require such heavy funding and are those services necessary? Is it necessary for government to take over businesses even if the fail? If a person cannot run a business in a profitable manner, why should the government take them over? Are the people so dependent on working for someone else, they no longer know how to survive by hard work and thinking for themselves? Has government made it so hard for people to start a business, they become frustrated and give up?
This country was founded by people who wanted a chance of making a life without government control. Can we find our way back? Are we looking at a future where a single leader controls our life, our liberty? People, get control of yourself first and then look to having a voice in the running of this country. Don't five up your freedoms on which this vast land of America was founded.
I say yea to the Tea Parties, to the activist who voices their concerns, to anyone who stands up and voices their beliefs. Let's start making the right changes in our own country and quit focusing on the civil uprising on those people who are fighting the tyranny in other countries. There are no new vast lands to which we can escape. There must be a change first in the hearts and minds of each individual and then as a nation.
Thank you to those founding fathers who had a unique concept and had the courage and stamina to go forth and develop the Constitution that establish this great country. Happy fourth of July - the birthday of our nations independence and freedom.
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