Open Left

Fair enough

My point was that we don't do much in the way of focusing on what the day is about (that is not unique to any particular holiday.)  If we get past the fireworks and barbecue, we often just lionize the people at the top (who did not make the Revolution, they were only a part of it.)  

But there are larger lessons here, that are obscured when we fail to focus on what independence was about.  It's not just about our country, it's about each one of us (which is Paul's excellent point), and about people around the globe - who have every right to self-determination that our political ancestors had (which was the point of my quick hit from yesterday). Merely using the name Independence Day rather than 4th of July is a small step - thinking and talking about what independence is about today, for all of us, is the key.  This series is helping making that happen. There seems to be a lot of this going on in the blogosphere.  

Who are the best keepers of the people's liberties? The people themselves. The sacred trust can be no where so safe as in the hands most interested in preserving it.
James Madison

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by: David Kaib @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:10:23 PM CDT