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Tom Anselm on The 4th of July
We Celebrate Independence
Day on July 4, But Should it
Have Been July 2 or Aug. 2?
So here we go, America, time to be burning meat on the grill and on fingers with sparklers. Blowing stuff up, lighting the sky with pyrotechnics. Drinking copious amounts of beer and soft drinks and parading down Market Street and wearing the colors of this great nation’s flag.
As I write this, I hope we are also celebrating another trip to the 2019 Women’s World Cup Final Four for the U.S. Team. And wondering, maybe, what this is all about. We do this on The Fourth of July, every year since the year 1776 to celebrate our independence from Great Britain.
Now, many sources have thrown a wrench in this date as having been the actual date of this event. Many say that the actual declaration was made by Congress two days prior, July 2, and that the 4th saw the written document and approved it on the 4th with John Hancock, the only signer that day. Thus the public, not having access to Facebook and Twitter, didn’t hear it read until July 8.
The real signing, some say, by delegates took place almost a month later, on Aug. 2. So we could say that there was a celebration of sorts for at least a month, starting the 8th and prior to its official signing on parchment. But, this being said, except that for historical purposes, we all consider ‘The Fourth of July” as our nation’s birthday. And what did this event give birth to?
Looking around now, we see a country that has seen great change. Great divisions exist, politically. It is a nation that has committed great sins in its development and expansion. Stolen lands, slavery, lack of respect for life at any stage, in seeming contradiction to Jefferson’s words 243 years ago espousing the ‘Right to Life.’
We continue to see terrible crime in its biggest cities, racial hatreds, a huge problem of illegal immigration, rampant consumerism, hungry children, horrible drug trafficking and even more horrible human trafficking. Suicides, especially among the young, are rising. Major problems that seem to have no solutions, at least in the short term. We see our politicians acting more like little children playing “gotcha back” than the elected representatives of the people they took an oath to serve.
As a nation, as a culture, we still have a long way to go. However, in spite of it all, this nation is the greatest democratic republic the world has ever seen. Our forefathers (and fore-mothers!) saved the free world. Twice.
We are first on the scene at every major disaster with aid and support. Our way of life and standard of living have people, literally, sadly, dying to get in.. But, we can do better. Surely, our leaders can do better. In our own sphere of influence, in our own humble lives, maybe we can, also.
So I will pray for these United States of America tomorrow. For forgiveness. For our leaders. For we, the people. For a future fulfillment of our vast potential. God Bless the USA! Happy Birthday, America! Long may we continue to strive to be better.
