Happy July 4th

It’s 4th of July — the birthday of the greatest country on earth. It was born 248 years ago today in 1776. At the time of its birth, it was a tiny nation with a  population of 2.5 million people. It’s come a long way.

Thomas Paine (born 1737 Norfolk, England, died 1809 New York, N.Y.) wrote, “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like me, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” The time is upon the country to undertake the fatigue of securing freedom once again. The Democrats are destroying our country.

July 4th fireworks are fun. This one is from the celebrations of 2015 at Almaden Lake, San Jose, CA.

Let me end this one with a song that is dear to my heart. It’s by the rock band Steppenwolf. Published in 1969 — that’s 55 years ago! Follow along with the lyrics below:

Once the religious, the hunted and weary
[People came to the US to escape religious persecution.]
Chasing the promise of freedom and hope
Came to this country to build a new vision
Far from the reaches of kingdom and pope

Like good Christians, some would burn the witches
Later some got slaves to gather riches

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
But she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light

And once the ties with the crown had been broken
[1776 Declaration of Independence.]
Westward in saddle and wagon it went
And ’til the railroad linked ocean to ocean
Many the lives which had come to an end

While we bullied, stole and bought our a homeland
[The Native Americans lost their land.]
We began the slaughter of the red man

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
But she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light

The blue and grey they stomped it
[The American Civil War 1861-65.]
They kicked it just like a dog
And when the war was over
They stuffed it just like a hog

And though the past has it’s share of injustice
[Slavery.]
Kind was the spirit in many a way
But it’s protectors and friends have been sleeping
Now it’s a monster and will not obey

Suicide

The spirit was freedom and justice
And it’s keepers seemed generous and kind
It’s leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won’t, pay it no mind
‘Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
Now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it’s all just an echo of what they’ve been told

Yeah, there’s a monster on the loose
It’s got our heads into the noose
And it just sits there watching

The cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is strangling the land
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can’t understand
We don’t know how to mind our own business
[Foreign wars.]
‘Cause the whole world’s got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who’s the winner, we can’t pay the cost

‘Cause there’s a monster on the loose
It’s got our heads into the noose
And it just sits there, watching

America

America, where are you now?
Don’t you care about your sons and daughters?
Don’t you know, we need you now
We can’t fight alone against the monster

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That last verse gives me the chills.

Happy July 4th!

{Image at the top of the post: The bald eagle is the national bird of the US.}