4th of July
What a wonderful day it is as a holiday from work and a time for general celebration. There are more hot dogs consumed in America on this day than any other and, obviously, more fireworks exploded than on any other day. Thank goodness for a free country which can use it's own Declaration of Independence as a reason to gather family and friends for boating, swimming, eating, drinking, games, and all manner of pleasant and joyful experiences.
Just as any holiday, there is a foundation for the day and a reason the holiday exists. Most folks recognize that the 4th of July is a celebration of the independence of the United States from Britain, but few know how it came about and follow the real instruction for the celebration.
In fact, John Adams, the first Vice President and second President of these United States and one of the Founding Fathers of this Nation and a contributor to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence wrote a letter to his wife. In his letter he stated:
"It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews (means horseshoes), Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."
Wow! With a letter he set in motion the prescription for July 4th celebrations lasting well over 200 years. We Americans have followed his instructions in almost every way.
When did the Acts of Devotion to God Almighty fall by the wayside? How could a leader of government utter such words without being as ostracized as Paula Deen?
Simple. Contrary to decisions and mandates of modern day judges, courts and politicians the idea of a devotion to God was ever present within the minds of the Founders and references to God and Father are found in practically all documents having to do with the beginnings of this Nation. A Nation founded in the name of Democracy, wherein the majority rules. Yet, our courts have ruled that prayer is not allowed in schools and at games, the Pledge of Allegiance is banned, anyone can marry anyone, small children claiming to be "transgender" can use the bathrooms of the opposite sex, small groups can desecrate the burial of a fallen soldier, atheists can display their beliefs on public property and, most importantly, references to God are disallowed in public places.
Just yesterday, a newscaster lauded the fact this country was founded as a secular nation. Where and how have people come up with that idea? "In God We Trust" has appeared on U.S. money since 1864 and became, with very little opposition, the official motto of the United States under President Eisenhower. Taken out of context, correspondence from Thomas Jefferson discussing a separation of church and state has been used as misguided, and twisted grounds for claiming religious expression of the one to whom the founders gave credit and constantly prayed is unconstitutional. The constitution followed the Declaration of Independence. It did not take away anything from the declaration The Declaration contains five references to God, especially "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor".
This is a Nation founded under God and its majority should be as willing to fight for that belief as for freedom.
