Happy Birthday U.S.A.

[Bob Green]

Happy Birthday!

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/cha...ranscript.html

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.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Here's hoping everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July Holiday Weekend!

[OldPhiKap]

Enjoy Independence Day!

And thanks to all of thse out there (like Bob) who served our country.

[DukieInKansas]

Enjoy Independence Day!

And thanks to all of thse out there (like Bob) who served our country.

I'll second this. I love this country, warts and all. It may not be perfect but it is free. We can disagree wih our leaders in public and be free to do it again the next day.

Thank you to all our service members - past, present, and future who keep the nation safe.

[Indoor66]

Semper Fi

[Reilly]

... I love this country ... It may not be perfect but it is free ...

Cool that the American experiment -- born of ideas about how to organize and what's important -- keeps chugging along, despite all the challenges (riotous Terps being just outside the gates of the capitol city; wars and slavery, too).

Long live the freedom to rack up student debt, star in porn, drink beer, hate on Carolina and use DBR as one's only news source.

[blazindw]

238 never looked better. Happy birthday to the United States of America!

[OldPhiKap]

If England had won the war (note, some NSFW rough language):

http://youtu.be/-Jk4RueFBhk

[Olympic Fan]

Upon the adoption of the Declaration, John Adams (who had more to do with pushing American independence through the Continental Congress than anyone else) wrote his wife:

"[This day] will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. . . . It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews (sic), Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

Of course, he was writing about July 2, the day independence was declared and the declaration was approved. But the congressmen fiddled with the language for two days and the final version wasn't adopted until July 4. That's the date on the document and the date when the Declaration was first read publically. It wasn't signed until August.

But there is some magic in the 4th of July date -- exactly 50 years after the first Fourth, both Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the same day, July 4, 1826, half a country apart. An amazing coincidence ... Adams last words were reportedly, "Jefferson lives!" not knowing that his old friend and political rival was then dying in Virginia.

[PSurprise]

But there is some magic in the 4th of July date -- exactly 50 years after the first Fourth, both Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the same day, July 4, 1826, half a country apart. An amazing coincidence ... Adams last words were reportedly, "Jefferson lives!" not knowing that his old friend and political rival was then dying in Virginia.

And then five years later Monroe died on July 4, 1831. Three of the first five presidents died on a July 4.