Saturday, July 4, 2009

Postcards for the 4th of July

Today is Independence Day, the birth of the United States of America. On July 4, 1776, we declared our independence and went to war for our freedom and liberty. We were led by great leaders who had foresight and believed in the ideals of freedom and equality. And out of the long struggle and hardship, a new nation was born, with the ideals of liberty and justice for all.

Many doubted the survival of the new nation. And we've not always lived up to our ideals. A civil war nearly tore the nation apart. But a strong leader gave his life in the struggle to keep the nation whole.

President Lincoln did more than just freeing the slaves and preserving the nation. He fundamentally changed the national identity from "these" United States to "the" United States, one nation, one people, Americans all.

E Pluribus, Unum--Out of many, one. We are a nation of many people, natives and immigrants, come together as one.

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Emma Lazarus, 1883, The New Colossus, Statue of Liberty

We've accomplished some great things in cause of liberty and freedom.

Women are guaranteed the same rights as all American citizens.

Hey, just because I dress like a whore doesn't make it okay for you to stare at my ass!

But we've still got some ways to go.

We are faced with the challenges of dealing with our environment.

If you don't pick up your trash, I will cry a single, lonely tear.

And we're still faced with the ongoing struggle for human rights, equality for all Americans.

We're here! We're queer! Get used to it!

But let us take time today to remember our history and all the great things we've accomplished. We still have some ways to go in reaching our ideals, but we'll get there. So long as we believe in our ideals and work towards them, we'll get closer to making them a reality.

So Happy 4th of July, America! Enjoy the festivities and fireworks! Be happy and Be careful.

Whose child is that playing with the dynamite? Good Lord!


  1. Wonder Woman looks like she's tripping over the cab!!

    Happy Independence Day, Eroswings!!

  2. Savannah, Happy 4th to you, too! I hope you get to see fantastic fireworks and celebrate with good friends, having good times!

    Tim, She saw a shoe sale and rushed over without paying attention to anything else.

    Thanks. Have a great weekend!

  3. I am late... is it still the 4th there?
    Erm... apologies if it isn't - but have a Happy 5th as well!

  4. Scarlet B, Thank you. It's a weekend long celebration--kind of like most weekends, except with more fireworks, BBQs, and red&white&blue themes everywhere.

  5. By the way, thank you so much for posting the pic of my brother's car - much appreciated!!

  6. Well said.

    As a Canuck I know that we seem unpatriotic to most Merkins. This is purely intentional because jingositic Nationalism makes us nervous..particularly since we know that Uncle Sam could just stroll over the border and "annex" us some afternoon and that would be that.

    Still, I have a realistic approach to the USA. I love it and hate it because it represents the best and the worst of what Humans are capable of. It's a young country and I have high hopes that things will get better before they get worse.

    Happy (belated) 4th of July Mr Swings.

  7. Donn, Thanks. I just think it's ingrained in our heads as soon as we start school to be patriotic--pledge of Allegiance before class starts, national anthems at sporting events, chanting 'USA!' when we gather in crowds, etc.

    The great thing about America is Free Speech, the right to express yourself freely--And therein lies one of the most unpleasant truths about democracy: Even the idiots and jackasses have the same right to free speech.