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Brazil, Indiana ~ Wednesday, August 27, 2008
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The true 'Independence Day?'
Posted Friday, July 11, 2008, at 12:27 PM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
We recently celebrated a holiday that brings about feelings of nationalism, pride and individuality.
July 4 is labeled our "Independence Day," but it is not truly our day of independence. In actuality, the true day of independence for the United States is Jan. 14. On that day in 1784, the Treaty of Paris was approved by the Congress of the Confederation, formally ending the American Revolutionary War. To me, I think that is a more important date in our country's history and should be celebrated more than July 4. Without the Treaty of Paris, would we be celebrating July 4 as "Independence Day?" I doubt it. In essence, July 4 commemorates the day we officially revolted against a tyrannical government. Yet when the southern states revolted against the government in 1861 and wanted to become their own entity, they were seen as unpatriotic, as do many who speak negatively about our government today. July 4 is a day of great significance in our country's history, but it wouldn't mean near as much without what happened on Jan. 14, 1784. I do believe that most history buffs would agree that Jan. 14 at least needs to be recognized as an important date in American history, if not revered more than July 4. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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The true 'Independence Day?'
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And Christ wasn't really born in Dec. either. Why do we change the day we recognize National Holidays to Mondays, but not July 4th? There are others but why was this one not changed?
LOL........and Abe and George were not born on the same Monday, either!
July 4th bears great import because we were taught that it does.
Under the Constitution, shouldn't we celebrate the date that it became the law of the land, that date being Sept. 13, 1788 when the Continental Congress passed it's resolution putting the Constitution into effect? That was the day that our current government began, not July 4th when we rebelled nor even when the American Revolution officially ended. Only with the adoption of the Constitution and its Bill of Rights did most of us actually gain freedom.
But, then again, perhaps we should celebrate our freedom on Aug. 18, the day that the 19th Amendment was ratified, thereby assuring that women were free to choose their elected representatives, too. (I didn't forget the 16th Amendment, it simply wasn't the last instance of a group being able to enjoy the same freedoms as the rest.)
Of course, the 16th Admendment granted freedom only in theory. Perhaps we should be celebrating a date somewhere in the 1960's?
Then again, perhaps we need to look around and make sure that every American has the same freedom. Are we truly free or are some of us still in bondage? Can we actually celebrate freedom if we are not free without being hypocrites?