Saturday July 4, 2009, 5:42 am
Whether you're having a cook-out, going to a parade, watching a movie, spending the day at the beach, with your family, or by yourself, please feel free to share what you're doing, or have done with your day. What does the Fourth of July mean to you??

Saturday July 4, 2009, 6:50 am
Is it just me, or did someone not edit the article... Take an elevator to the top of the WTC and have a picnic, there's a restaurant and bar there... at the top of the World Trade Center??? Was this written in 2000 or earlier??? seems like it... Wish I was going on a picnic, but I will see the fireworks from my house, no need to worry about drinking and driving... now I'm hungry... Thanks Kathy!

Saturday July 4, 2009, 7:31 am
Does seem like an early article recycled but...for me I reflect on the fact that this is still the only country that I wish to be a citizen of...complain all you want but still the greatest country in the WORLD!

Saturday July 4, 2009, 7:43 am
As we celebrate our country's independence I see it as a holiday to be with friends and family. Swimming and sun, bbq and good times. Of course the biggest highlight is watching fireworks and I so love watching other states celebrating.

Saturday July 4, 2009, 8:19 am
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men
who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors,
and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army;
another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or
hardships of the Revolutionary War..

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes,
and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.
Eleven were merchants,
nine were farmers and large plantation owners;
men of means, well educated,
but they signed the Declaration of Independence
knowing full well that the penalty would be death if
they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and
trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the
British Navy. He sold his home and properties to
pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British
that he was forced to move his family almost constantly.
He served in the Congress without pay, and his family
was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him,
and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,
Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that
the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson
home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General
George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed,
and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed.
The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying.
Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill
were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests
and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his
children vanished.
So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and
silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free!

Saturday July 4, 2009, 9:44 am
I plan to watch the "Roseanne" marathon later tonight, and I'm thankful for the freedom to do so. Thanks, Peace, and all, and have a great, safe day!

Saturday July 4, 2009, 12:50 pm
Poud to be an AMERICAN to Live in the Land of the FREE!!!! :0)

Saturday July 4, 2009, 1:11 pm
Love Blue Bunting's comment! But I think our Founding Fathers might have a different view of our Independence Day if they were alive today to see what our current hegemonic warring is doing (and has done) to others the globe over. For more than once we have thwarted a foreign democracy and put in place a leader who would be "friendly" to our "interests."

And I say that as a patriot who cares about the character of her country, and not just its image.

As Walter Mosley said, "I cannot be free while my neighbor is wearing chains."

So today, in addition to remembering our Founding Fathers' courage, and the BEST things that America stands for, I will also be thinking of others abroad who have sometimes suffered at the hands of our imperialism and warfare.

And in particular, will be remembering those brave patriots who are sending aid to Gaza, and wishing the Viva Palestina effort godspeed.

Saturday July 4, 2009, 1:16 pm
Freedom

Saturday July 4, 2009, 1:27 pm
THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT GAVE THERE LIFE FOR US TO HAVE OUR FREEDOM. MAY THEY ALL BE HONORED

Saturday July 4, 2009, 1:48 pm
JUST A QUICK NOTE....the blog is listed as of the 3rd., but who knows where the guy was getting everything he was writing! Just thought it'd make a good comment-starter! Happy 4th! Where I'm at in AZ - the temp will be 113 today, and 117 tomorrow!! I've gotta find me some extra suntan lotion!! :))

Sunday July 5, 2009, 2:46 am
As I gaze upwards at fireworks I always found a song drifting through my mind..."and the rockets' red lare, the bombs bursting in air", and so on. Personally, there are 4 times a year I mark with solemn respect; The 4th of July, Memorial Day, Veterans' Day, and my husbands' birthday. These are the times I take a folded flag from its' case and embrace it close to my heart. I am the widow of a Vietnam vet who served so others might live in the "land of the free". I hope all of us can show respect to any soldier fighting, and although we hate war, we should love one another and pray for the time when it is no longer necessary on our planet. Until then, hold peace in your heart and spread it around every chance you get!

Sunday July 5, 2009, 2:53 am
I meant "rockets' red GLARE!" (sorry!) And I also meant to thank Peace Love Earth...I wish all a safe weekend. Enjoy time with your families or in calm reflection. We all have something to be thankful for!

Sunday July 5, 2009, 12:04 pm
Even though I get mad at the way things are going this is still THE greatest country. Push come to shove and we would all be fighting to save our freedom if necessary. I feel it and I know it. The fourth is time to reflect and celebrate the true meaning of freedom.

Sunday July 5, 2009, 1:25 pm
Freeom,life and dreams.. my dreams are not quite happening, should i "sue" just kidding we all know the government is not going to let us have dreams....

Sunday July 5, 2009, 2:10 pm
To sort out the truth from the false information in "The Price they paid"( the essay "Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?)

Go to snopes.com http://www.snopes.com/history/american/pricepaid.asp

Sunday July 5, 2009, 2:12 pm
And as I said on another thread... All that is nothing next to the genocide of the Indigenous Peoples who lived there - millions and millions of men and women, children and elders, murdered, entire nations wiped out, cultures and languages killed forever. The soil of the USA is still soaked in blood and the genocide is still going on in other ways. Have you ever wondered about what happened to ALL these human beings?

I personally think that is what should be remembered on July 4th. And that the Native Americans are still waiting for an apology.

Sunday July 5, 2009, 2:17 pm
I always thought that living in America and celebrating the 4th of July ment we were Free and equal but as a Gay man living in this country I am Not FREE nor am I Equal. I pay taxes without representation. I cannot serve in the army, DADT, unless I lie about my sexual identity/orientation and I can't get married because of DOMA. All these freedoms, which most Americans take for granted, are stiffled by the Religious Right, even the right of My Church, which is a main stream religious organization, to honor and make me whole by mayying the person of my choice. ALL this even though we are suppose to have Separation of Church and State.

Sunday July 5, 2009, 8:21 pm
Yes Brigitte, most Americans recognize this noble sentence from the Declaration of Independence:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

But how many Americans recognize this sentence from the same document?

"He [King George of Great Britain] has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions."

I agree an apology to Native Americans by the American Government is in order.

Sunday July 5, 2009, 9:26 pm
I know that the Native American's are still waiting and that things are not what they could be here in this country but yesterday I watched Mr. Smith Goes to Washington with Jimmy Stewart followed by Jimmy Cagney in Yankee Doodle and I think that Jefferson Smith says it best.
From Capra's Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Jefferson Smith: "You see, boys forget what their country means by just reading The Land of the Free in history books. Then they get to be men they forget even more. Liberty's too precious a thing to be buried in books, Miss Saunders. Men should hold it up in front of them every single day of their lives and say: I'm free to think and to speak. My ancestors couldn't, I can, and my children will. Boys ought to grow up remembering that."

Sunday July 5, 2009, 10:10 pm
Unfortunately we are not free, i will not celebrate life until we are all living in freedom, with the mustangs, the wolves, the Bison and the Eagles,How long has Leonard Peltier been locked up?An innocent man/red man still figting for his freedom,Our animals today, are living in fear, frightened,chased by hellicopters, starving and trampeled in trucks over crowded,watching family members get slaughtered one by one,how much shock, pain and suffering do they feel ,knowing they are next?How horrifing to think your baby ,then, you, the suffering that man has caused on this planet is beyond insanity,As long as our animal kingdoms suffer, we suffer for we are all One, Divine energy source running thru all blood and veins and hearts!Remember we all came here to be the divine keepers and protectors of the animal kingdom gifted to us by our cosmic mother.

Monday July 6, 2009, 1:29 am
Everyone's sort of right...we're not all equal, life's not all fair, but if there's any country where black, white, red, yellow, or any other shade of man can live, love & work side-by-side is as much harmony as this country, I'd love for them to step forward, and announce themselves.....

Monday July 6, 2009, 2:00 am
The meaning of the 4Th of July to me is Celebrating our freedom, Being w/ friends & family, cooking out swimming, doing whatever makes us feel happy & proud to be an AMERICAN. I mean that's my meaning.
Also noted. Thanks Peace Love !! You Rock!! :)

Monday July 6, 2009, 7:01 am
I am not American, but the 4th of July means a lot to me.
1. My Oldest Son's Birthday.
2. My Mom and Dads Wedding Day
3. My Mom and Stepfathers Wedding Day
4. My wedding day
5. My divorce day
6 My nephew and his bride got married
Well other then being Americas day, this day really means a lot to me.

Monday July 6, 2009, 6:30 pm
This is for Dominic, I stand beside you we are ALL equals, though I too prefer men, not being funny, I do not beleive anyone deserves, pain or cruelty for love.... god be w/ you!!!!! I know I am.

Monday July 6, 2009, 6:58 pm
You do not have to be born or even living in America to celebrate your independence... I say we celabrate as often as possible.....

Monday July 6, 2009, 11:33 pm
Enough already! July 4 WAS NOT the day of Independence, it was 28 July! And when one considers that thos who suffered most in that war it wasn't those 56 men, but the REAL HEROES of that war, the regular folks who did the manual backbreaking labors that those hackneyed, overrated and mythologized wealthy lords of profit...so many lies...so much untruth that was simply accepted verbatim without checking sources.

Consider too the heavy price paid by the colonial Tories who suffered attacks by both civilians and Washington's troops, i.e., tortures, mutilation (hacked to death, hung by ropes or shot) rapes, and their properties looted and seized, expelling them from the colonies often with only the clothes they were wearing when set upon.

Three examples of BS myths:
a) Betsy Ross never made a single flag for Washington,
b) "Molly PItcher" ever existed,
c) that so-called harsh winter at Valley Forge was actually the mildest on record with the sweating troops playing an early form of "baseball" in their skivies.
d) Washington STANDING in a boat crossing the Delaware river (why would anyone be stupid enough to stand in a boat that would result in the boat capsizing with all hands overbaord
If) anyone cares to check the true facts vs. the commonly accepted myths regarding those "founding fathers," I highly recommend the following books:
*Ray Raphael, "Founding Myths, Stories That Hide Our Patriotic Past." The New Press, New York, 2004 ISBN: 1-56584-921-3

* Howard Zinn, "A People's History Of The United States, 1492 - Present" Perennial Classics New York, NY 2003 ISBN: 0-06-052837-0

Online:

http://www.ctssar.org/articles/price_paid.htm

http://www.grazian-archive.com/histc18.htm

Wednesday July 8, 2009, 9:30 pm
This is a day of remembrance for me.The parade and patriotic music never fails to bring tears to my eyes.This year the patriotism is stronger than ever but the sorrow runs deep for the state that our governing misfits from BOTH parties have brought upon it. OUR country as we have known it will never return from this. Change ,yes ,but what are we changing into,I don't honestly think any of them know, they just keep pushing for change now for the sake of change. All of our hearts are what keep this nation whole, all we can do now is bind tighter together and hope we can rise above this.