INDEPENDENCE DAY ~ By Matthew S. Magda of Harbinger*33

Lovely Ladies and Genuine Gents ~

 

THE PRINTS AND THE POPPER shall return AT THE BIJOU next Sunday in its regular matinee time slot, but now . . . quite fittingly . . . this star'spangled patriotic message from an historian of the world many of us are fortunate to keep on knowing the more ~

INDEPENDENCE DAY

~ By Matthew S. Magda

        It is sobering to know that a recent poll revealed that 26% of Americans did not know from whom their country had declared its independence.  That’s right -- more than a quarter of the adult population did not know that the United States had declared its independence from Great Britain.  Most identified the wrong country and some simply did not have any idea. 

More disturbing, however, is that most people in another poll could not identify the founding principles of this country as stated in the Declaration of Independence.  Even worse was that many rejected those principles when stated to them.  This does not harbinger well for the future of the United States.  Truly, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison would be saddened by this knowledge. They surely would have believed that Americans would have come to understand the importance of their “revolution” and their rejection of rule by a monarch. 

Abraham Lincoln understood that this country was founded on a world transforming concept, that “all men are created equal.” That all are entitled to have their “natural rights” of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness protected.  That a government was only legitimate if it received its authority from the consent of the governed.  That the fundamental test of the Civil War was whether a nation dedicated to the fulfillment of these principles could survive.  Fortunately for this country, Lincoln led us through a terrible time of peril for our republic.  In his Gettysburg Address he rededicated this country to its founding principles as stated in the Declaration of Independence.  

On this July 4^th, let us remember and memorialize the courageous individuals who fought for American independence.  Let us also realize that it is ideas that are the most powerful things on earth, and, thus, let each of us rededicate ourselves to the fulfillment of the principles of the Declaration of Independence.  

(c) 2010 ~ Author Matthew S. Magda 

Visualizations: SilkyRed1, GWBurke, Boobooetmoi

 MATT MAGDA is scholar, teacher, writer, historian and in his own sense of self, 'global citizen'. In his day, he's held the post of Deputy Chief of History in the Historical and Museum Commission for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, co-written an Encyclopedia Brittanica entry on Philadelphia, published historical books and papers and can spin a real good yarn as well. Catch what he does to that age-old following of the feeling "Love" in the upcoming  HARBINGER*33. In his home state of Connecticut, from a home built when Abe Lincoln was building his solid rep, in a little town close to the sea that sits at the confluence of two rivers, Matthew is on the adjunct faculty of the University of Connecticut, teaches at Wilby High School, Sacred Heart University and in the summer when he runs out of things to do with his lively (true blue) companion, he is a master teacher at the Yale Summer Institute for European Studies. He writes as he ponders ~ strong and true ... and in this memorable message ~ he certainly raised the grand ol'flag of pensive thought on our red, white and blue!

Thank*you Matthew for sharing your high fine ideals and giving Harry and I a week off to center in all the goings-on in our BIJOU crime plot ... but most of all, THANKS for my believing in believers tenacity knowing the valour of you.

~ Absolutely*Kate

       and our fine staff of renown

*AT THE BIJOU*

Happy4thofJulyFolks!

Pursue your Happiness

and Declare all your Freedoms!