Can we agree that the holiday we celebrate annually on July 4th in this country should be referred to as "Independence Day," not "the 4th of July"? I mean, we don't refer to Christmas as "the 25th of December," nor our own birthdays, nor our wedding day as "the 23rd of March" (randomly chosen date) or whatever. December 25th and July 4th are dates on the calendar which mark two great occasions for celebration in this country, the birth of Christ and the birth of the nation respectively. Personally I think we do a disservice to our founders and the epoch when we use the calendar date July 4th as synonymous terminology with the event which we're celebrating, or which we're supposed to be celebrating.
As John Quincy Adams, on the 61st occasion for celebrating Independence Day in this country, so ably said in a speech delivered to the citizens of Newburyport:
Why is it that next to the birthday of the Savior of the World, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day.
Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked to the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the Progress of the Gospel dispensation?
Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth?
That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity and gave to the world the first irrevocable pledge of the fulfillment of the prophecies announced directly from Heaven at the birth of the Savior and predicted by the greatest of the Hebrew prophets 600 years before.
Perhaps my traditionalist friends will at least agree with me (and with Mr. Adams) on this point. Indeed, as Mr. Adams put it, our most joyous and most venerated festival, next to the birthday of the Savior of the World, returns on this day, the calendar date July 4th. The festival itself is not the same as the date on which we celebrate it.
Notwithstanding that, here's a Wikipedia article on the Declaration of Independence that you might find interesting.
Addendum:
Here's the first paragraph from the Wiki entry:
The United States Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, announcing that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain were no longer a part of the British Empire. Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration was a formal explanation of why Congress had voted on July 2 to declare independence from Great Britain, more than a year after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War. The birthday of the United States of America—Independence Day—is celebrated on July 4, the day the wording of the Declaration was approved by Congress. (emphasis added)
Happy Independence Day!
Terry, absolutely! "The Fourth of July" annoys me too.
ReplyDeleteI have to think this reinvention of the holiday is intentional on someone's part, since there are powerful forces that don't value our independence, that want to merge us with other countries in the NAU, and that want us to celebrate whatever is their preferred concept of "America". "Independence Day" is too subversive of globalism for them, is it not? We had better not even think of it, they must think.
John, thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou wrote:
"Independence Day" is too subversive of globalism for them, is it not?
There was a day, not so awful long ago, that I would have disagreed with this view on the basis that it is "too conspiratorial" to think that people would knowingly and purposely undermine conservatism in this way. But I'm quickly getting over this mindset.
While the average Joe probably has no idea that using the fourth of July as interchangeable with "Independence Day" is subversive to American sovereignty, much in the same way that the average Mexican immigrant cannot see himself as a useful pawn in the larger globalist scheme of undermining American sovereignty, this does not negate the fact that there are powerful forces working behind the scenes in both cases to achieve this objective through these people.
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ReplyDeleteAs an example of the subtle undermining of the true meaning of July 4th. A term which is so widely accepted today as being the name for the holiday. I remember once watching a cartoon which contained the lovable character porky pig, the subject of this cartoon was July 4th. As I recall porky was rather dumbfounded in the midst of the celebration, and was at a loss for the meaning of the festivities. So he approached one of his elders and quietly asked "Why are we celebrating?". And the elder answered him with exclamation "It's uncle Sams birthday!" After a bit more detailed explanation Porky shortly after got in the spirit of things and the cartoon ended. Now when I watched this cartoon I was very young and impressionable. Since there was no further explanation given for the real meaning of July 4th, I just assumed it was uncle sams birthday.
ReplyDeleteSoon after that, I can remember getting ready to celebrate the holiday ourselves, and dad asking me do you know why we are celebrating? And of course I replied yes I do! It's uncle sams birthday I exclaimed with a feeling of accomplishment for having known the answer, or so I thought. To this day Dad's reaction doesn't escape me as I recall he laughed out loud and smiled as he began to explain to me the true meaning of "The Fourth of July". In his explanation I remember him telling me that the real name for the holiday was Independence Day. And even then as a child I realized it was a gross understatement to refer to it as anything less! Soon thereafter when we were going to shoot of our fireworks to celebrate I remember Dad setting us down and reading to us the story of our Independence day. The feeling of pride and joy that overwhelmed me that day has taken hold every Independence day since. I do not think that its a conscience undermining of the true meaning of our great Independence day on everyone's part just a lack of the proper explanation. I feel sorry for those who have grown up in this country and were never enlightened to the details of its birth!
With all of that said I would like to send out a word of thanks to my father, for passing the torch of Liberty on to me! I only wish others were so fortunate. With the thoughts of this country's birth in our heart's, and of God's grace that brought it into existence may you all have a happy Independence Day!
Terry, you're right, just like Pat Buchanan says.
ReplyDeleteI'm late to it, Terry, but this was a good article and comments. I liked your example, too, Liberty or Death. I'm glad to see so many people are perceptive, and more becoming so, about how the bias is presented in such seemingly innocent ways. If only enough..., but we have to do as we can.
ReplyDeleteJohn, I'm sorry to say that we are not the same men that our ancestors were (Buchanan's article). We retained a resemblance until it was beaten out of us by the dialectics of the sixties and after. We have been turned into a mobile society without true loyalty to "God (or at least some higher power), country, family and self". That inner conviction, viewing God, country, family and self, not as values but as being tangible, are what all real American men (and women) have.
We have been taught to mix with and to identify with the weakeners who have been intentionally placed in our midst in order to bring our capablitities and pride to the lower levels. Not enough of our ancestors spotted the treacherous con being played on America (and the true American people) and we are just beginning to do so.
Many of us are still Americans, however, and we will do what has to be done. The time and circumstances will come for some of our people, men and women, unless we allow our Americanism to be taught away by the Marxists in the media. We no longer have the means to be self-reliant since our farms and land have been replaced by the property we rent (from the government, as agents for the governments owners, the central banks) through our taxes. We do not have a place to become self-reliant again (as a unified community) without coming under attack for being successful in doing so.
The left will force a choice upon us by taking more and more of our resources through manipulation by the central banks and their leftist networks. We have more to learn about their history and methods. We have a teaching job to do, too, for our new generations. We have to turn their natural spirit of rebellion to our advantage rather than allowing the Marxists to remove their minds and loyalties from the parents (and to use the child's mind for the lefts purposes, at the children's and our own expense).
Media and communications must come under the control of our people. Until it does, we have no hope to overturn the financial control. Media will continue as our ever-present enemies, and they and their comrades, the leftist educators will train all Americanism and manhood from our children and from our "detached" and "silent", but dwindling, "majority".