On the 234th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence from the Brits it is worth remembering that the Declaration was the culmination of the War of Independence. Our sons and daughters continue to put their lives in harm’s way so that we can preserve the outcome of that war. We celebrate the weekend with fireworks, fire up the barbecues, watch the parades, and hope that that peace will find its way into the hearts and minds of people who will agree that it is time for an interlude.
War loses its meaning when it is perpetually fought. To have meaning, war must be punctuated by peace much as sound is punctuated by silence. Yet peace comes at a price, and if it’s cost is freedom then we have not only the right but the obligation to bear arms. War can be abused, but so can civility. Celebrating our independence reminds us how dependent we are on the day to day civilities in this country that seem increasingly at risk.
Have a safe and joyous Independence Day.
Pressvision's Blog 
I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other…- John Adams
Here in Southwest Michigan we celebrate with the world renown Cherry Pit Spitting Contest! http://www.freep.com/article/20100704/NEWS06/100704013/1001/news
Rick “Pellet Gun” Krause in his patriotic shorts. Gotta love it!
It is true that we owe a debt of gratitude to all who wear the uniform of the United States and our allies; but we should not forget that the military is under the direct control of the President of the United States as commander in chief. In this respect, we must remember that each citizen of the United States is responsible for the cascade of government. Knowledge of civil and political events are the important items for the citizen and above all voting, if we will continue as a free nation.
God Save and Bless the United States of America. Truly the citizen should be,
Semper Fidelis!
Beautifully stated, WC. Pardon the sports analogy, but much as great ballplayers rarely make great coaches or managers, it has been rare in our history that the commander in chief has had a stellar record of military service. We therefore place tremendous trust in our leaders’ judgment, including their reliance on collective military and security intelligence, making it all the more important that they earn and retain the trust of those who elected them.
an eloquent ode to the meaning of war and peace !
Thanks, Dan. It’s not easy to find a balance between Toy Story in 3D and Tolstoy. 😉