Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 4:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What is the meaning of the rights and freedoms we have and hold to be self-evident?

It was certain truths that were held to be self evident, those truths were that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights: Among these Rights are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

What did the Delcaration declare? It delcared " — 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."

The ends mentioned here were "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,"

Among the acts imposed on the Colonists without consent, and so found to be of so heinous a nature that sufferance was no longer possible by the Colonists, were these:

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions

Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 5:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This Independence Day, let us remember the real meaning of why we our founding fathers declared independence, what actions of government against men they found so grievous as to warrant risking their lives and the lives of their friends and families.

Remember that Thomas Jefferson was honored to have his name added to a list on a bill of attainder convicting him without trial for his part in constructing the Declaration.

Remember that our soldiers, who have all died in the belief they were protecting our freedoms, have suffered sacrifice in vain if our present government becomes guilty of the same acts of Tyranny against the rights of any men when we hold those rights to be common to all.

America was formed to give men freedom from Tyranny, not to become an instrument of Tyranny. Celebrate, but understand.

Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I understand the meaning of July 4th. It's when we ended the British tax system and started the American tax system. We declared our independence from one and began our dependence on another. Freedom is a state of mind, not a government entitlement.

Posted by destiny (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Beamme, But you still have, as of now, the freedom to have that 'state of mind'. What many millions in the third world nations do not have. They do not have freedom to even think what they want to think much less speak it FOR FEAR OF A BUTCHERY DEATH. Please at least one time during Independence Day find the time to google up the song, 'ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL', or the song that makes me think of all the hero's from time beginning, 'YOU RAISE ME UP'.

Posted by Morticia (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sorry Destiny but I don't agree with the part about 'they don't have the freedom to think what they want' of course they do, as long as they don't speak it. No one can read your mind. No one can stop me from thinking what I think.

Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

They should write a song about 'Some Gave Nothing and Some Got it All'.

Posted by onsecondthought (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 1:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

wow... ya know, I'm pretty sure this was just an article intended to inform people of a good thing occuring in the Miss-Lou, but in a matter of moments it turned into yet another political argument (as if that doesn't already happen in every other barber shop/diner across America) Fact of the matter is, agree or disagree, these people came from very different denominations to celebrate something they believe in. And with the difference in denominations you can bet that they don't all share the same political views, still they will stand together thursday night and sing their hearts out. Even if you don't agree with the reasons they are celebrating, one has to give props to a group of individuals that can "stomach" one another to practice a program that they will perform (as a single unit) on a stage later on this week. Imagine that, people who believe differently coming together and acknowledging that they are all the same in the end, what a novel idea! Call me crazy but I think that is a beautiful example of tolerance and freedom. Keeping in mind that even if you DON'T think America is all it can be, people have given their all for her. We can at least celebrate them, I think they deserve it.

Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The same sort of thing happened on June 1, 1774 onsecondthought. The Colonists against the Crown agreed to have a day of fasting and prayer on that day, and the various ministers assembled the people for common fasting and prayer and speeches on the topic of asserting Independence.

It was a pretty good day for the country. The people became focused on overcoming the oppression they were under, though their prayers were that war could be avoided, that the King would hear their complaints and cease his actions against them.

June 1 and July 4 are nothing if not political days

June 1 was chosen as this day of fasting and prayer because that was the day the blockade of the port of Boston began.

Posted by onsecondthought (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 3:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

oh it's a political day? I wasn't aware that any individual or particular party was being elected/glorified on that day, sorry for the mistake. It seems we've all been misled to believe it was about something else completely, I'm glad you cleared that up for us. And I'm going to assume that you think that all Christians are pro-war (considering you specifically pointed out that those particular Christians were against war). If so, that is just not true. There are plenty of people who are praying that the war ends, but we should still respect those that think it is vital for all around peace, even if we disagree. If I'm wrong and that isn't at all what you meant, then I sincerely apologize.

Posted by aliceinwonderland (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 5:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You know, I really get tired of things that are meant for good being twisted and turned into something ugly. Can't we set aside issues that divide and find common ground. My dad was killed in WWII and his death was not in vain ... I am free, my children are free, and so are you and your children. I celebrate that freedom, and I am grateful for people who have the enthusiasm, the energy and the dedication to call us together for this "celebration." Join me that night at the City Auditorium and maybe you will have a renewed appreciation for the gift of freedom that continues to be ours because of the sacrifice of many. God Bless America!

Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on June 30, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My meaning, onsecondthought, was that Independence Day is the day we celebrate our common policy that liberty is preferable to tyranny.

I can't say I understand or accept the peace through war hypothesis though, especially in the case of our conduct against Iraq and the beating of the war drums against Iran.

Both of these cases are examples of the thirteen listed grievances above; grievances the writers of the Delcaraton of Indepence declared to be against the natural, God given rights of man. Only after long sufferance of attack by Britain did the Colonists go to war, and that was in defense of their lives. Neither Iran nor Iraq initiated war against us, though Israel did engage in an act of war against us in 1967 with the bombing and strafing of the USS Liberty in international waters. They even went so far as to machine gun survivors in the water; Russia came to the aid of our ship Liberty and our sailors.

I don't think any Christians are praying for war. Quite the contrary.