Independence Day: Not just another day ...

This Independence Day …


“Let not tomorrow be just another day.  Let the celebration of our nation's Independence Day be a day of genuine thankfulness for the wisdom of our Founding Father’s and the brave men and women who fearlessly fought for the idea of a "free nation."  Let this fourth of July be a day of remembering where we have been as a nation: our defining moments, as well as the moments where we may have gone astray. And bearing all of this in mind, let this Independence Day herald an awakening call for all American citizens to unite upon our common ground, in a cooperation of embracing diversities that strives to heal our once great nation.   May this healing then spread like fire in the hearts of good women and men, a fire to foster the building of bridges to cross the ever-widening chasms of our nation’s divide.” ~Isabelle Black Smith


@Copyrighted, July 2012. All Rights Reserved: Isabelle Black Smith.

[I wonder: have you ever read this document?  Maybe it's time you should ...]

Reflecting upon the many divides I see in our nation these days (e.g., black vs. white, have vs. have not, left vs. right, Democrat vs. Republican),  I find myself deeply troubled by the ever-widening chasms of our divide.  It is my sincerest hope that we, fellow American citizens, can find some meaningful way to come together on the really important issues facing our nation (terrorism, jobs, economy, education, energy independence, fixing healthcare).  We need to address these pressing issues for the greater good of ALL AMERICANS and for the future of our children, and our children's children yet to come.  Furthermore, we need to embrace our diversity, for our differences are the biggest part of what makes America so great, especially our diversity of thought.  Can you even imagine America as a nation of blind followers, mindlessly ad-hearing to one single set of ideological principles in absence of an on-going dialogue and meaningful debate?  That would be the antithesis of a true democracy, to my way of thinking. But embracing diversity only works when each of us is willing to honestly listen, in the absence of immediate judgment, in order to consider another perspective.  From here we can begin to engage in meaningful debate, bringing facts and ideas to table.  Judgment, obstruction and the absence of true debate (i.e., shutting down free speech and refusing to engage in constructive conversations, with actual facts, along with hurling divisive insults and accusations) gets us nowhere!  Finally, by revisiting our common roots --in history-- we will be in a position to learn from our successes, as well as failures, such that we will be able move forward once again with confidence, unity (in enacting policies beneficial to the nation as a whole) and accomplishment for all of "We the People" in America as a whole.

"My future looks bright?"

@Copyrighted Photograph.  All Rights Reserved.

Here's wishing you all a Blessed, joy-filled and safe celebration this 4th of July.  God Bless the USA!!



Peace & Much Love,

~M

Happy 4th of July!!

I needed a break ... Just to go away and disappear for awhile.  Sorry to disappear without notice.  I'm still not ready to come back, but I wanted to make a post in honor of the 4th of July, Independence Day.  Also wanted to post in honor of an old friend, from days long ago.  He is someone I went to high school with, named Troy Hxxxxxx.  I had a dream, with a message and you in it a few nights back.  So I am sincerely hoping all is well in your life and that you and yours are healthy.  Keeping you in my special thoughts and prayers for whatever grace, guidance and healing you may be in need of at this moment in time.  God Bless and keep you and yours!

And to the rest of you, who may pass this way:  Here's wishing you a very Happy and Blessed 4th of July celebration!! May you be filled with Peace, LOVE & Gratitude, with Hope for the future of our country.  God Bless the U.S.A.!!  We are truly blessed, all of us living in this land of the free, home of the brave. Even during these tough economic times, let us not forget to take a moment and find a way to express a sincere thankfulness for all that we are so fortunate to have.


Peace & LOVE ♥


~M

"Painted Sunet ... a.k.a.  HOPE" watercolor finish

@Copyrighted Image, 2011.  All Rights Reserved.

P.S.  Yes, I still do believe the universe will deliver my prayers, well wishes, good intentions for me, silly as that may seem to some. The recipient need never read my actual words.  But who knows?  Maybe, sometimes they actually do read my words for themselves. 

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July to all my family in Texas. Hard to get in touch with anybody these days. But hope you all have a fun 4th. Enjoy shooting off your 2 hours of fireworks (per Mom). We'll miss that. Don't burn the ranch down!

It's finally warm here now. Not too hot, but just enough to make me miss air conditioning?! Won't be missing those high summer electric bills though.

Happy 4th of July to anyone else who stops by. Happy Birthday America! May God especially bless those serving in the armed forces, especially those deployed overseas with their families still back at home. We owe all men and women willing to serve in our armed forces a debt of gratitude which can probably never truly be repayed.


God Bless!

M


P.S. Hey Rhett, who knows every line from almost every good movie (and some bad ones too : ) ever made. What movie did this come from? "I can never go home, Oatman. But, I guess that you can shop there."

Happy 231rst Birthday!

Time to brush up on our History. This 4th of July, did your kids ask you: "Mommy (or Daddy) what are we celebrating on the 4th of July?"

Well the standard response is "the Birthday of our Nation"or "the fact that we are a blessed nation with so many wonderful freedoms and brave men and women who were and are willing to sacrifice their lives for our right to freedom" and these are absolutely correct. But what if your kid wants more details?

I don't know about you but, for me, as we age and get further away from our primary education days, the actual historical details surrounding the 4th of July tend to get a bit fuzzy. So here is a brief refresher:

1) the Declaration of Independence was actually signed on July 4, 1776.And that is the actual date that they go back to when counting the age of our nation.


2) The colonies had officially been at war with England already for nearly a year by July 1776. The first battle of the American war for Independence from England was the Battle of Lexington, fought on April 19, 1775 -- and George Washington had already been appointed General of the Continental Army by 2nd the Continental Congress, which met May 10, 1775.


3) Even though the colonies had been at war with England for over a year by July 1776, it was the actual signing of the Declaration of Independence that made the focus, and desired outcome, of the war for the colonies of America "official." The colonists weren't just fighting over taxation and other grievances: the overwhelming consensus for independence from British rule -- which those pushing for outright revolution didn't have at the initial outbreak of war -- was consolidated by July of 1776.  This is when our foundling nation finally came together in order to tell the British to "take a hike" --the reason given by a friend (and father of 3 young children himself) as to what we celebrate on Independence day (Go Rhett! =).

4) While Articles of Confederation debate and the actual signing of the Constitution took place took place near July time-frame. The Birthday of our nation is counted from the day of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, on July 4th, 1776.


5) Other Dates of Interest:
o Articles of Confederation finally ratified March 1, 1781.
o War ended officially on October19, 1781 at the Battle of Yorktown.
o Constitutional Convention Meets (begins) May 25, 1787.
o Constitution of the United States of America was not signed until Sept. 17, 1787.

So now, you know  -- if you didn't already -- so you can dazzle your own kids with your profound knowledge of American history.

Sorry this wasn't up before the actual 4th, but better late than never. Hope you all had a happy 4th of July celebration!

God Bless America and Happy Birthday! Birthday number 231 if I can still do math correctly?

P.S. The Bonus question is: How many signed? How many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence can you name -- without using Google?