Full Version: Fourth of July Meditation
As we're celebrating our independence this week-end, it might be worth considering the responsibility that comes with it - especially as the US is now often considered the world's sole super-power (by those whose globes seem to exclude Asia). I recently came across the following chapter in the Tao te Ching, which struck me as being somewhat appropriate:
When a country obtains great power,
it becomes like the sea:
all streams run downward into it.
The more powerful it grows,
the greater the need for humility.
Humility means trusting the Tao,
thus never needing to be defensive.
A great nation is like a great man:
When he makes a mistake, he realizes it.
Having realized it, he admits it.
Having admitted it, he corrects it.
He considers those who point out his faults
as his most benevolent teachers.
He thinks of his enemy
as the shadow that he himself casts.
If a nation is centered in the Tao,
if it nourishes its own people
and doesn't meddle in the affairs of others,
it will be a light to all nations in the world.
Though most of us may not be Taoist, it strikes me that there is great wisdom in the words of Lao-tse.
Happy Fourth of July!
When a country obtains great power,
it becomes like the sea:
all streams run downward into it.
The more powerful it grows,
the greater the need for humility.
Humility means trusting the Tao,
thus never needing to be defensive.
A great nation is like a great man:
When he makes a mistake, he realizes it.
Having realized it, he admits it.
Having admitted it, he corrects it.
He considers those who point out his faults
as his most benevolent teachers.
He thinks of his enemy
as the shadow that he himself casts.
If a nation is centered in the Tao,
if it nourishes its own people
and doesn't meddle in the affairs of others,
it will be a light to all nations in the world.
Though most of us may not be Taoist, it strikes me that there is great wisdom in the words of Lao-tse.
Happy Fourth of July!
Those are poignant words, Wertz. Thanks for sharing.
Since you've covered the present and the future, let us also remember how we got here:
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. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
Since you've covered the present and the future, let us also remember how we got here:
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. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
Indeed it is appropriate to remember how we got here. I was going through some speeches given by Ronald Reagan the other day and I came across a fascinating story he told to a graduating class long before most of you here were born. This is what he said back in 1957....
QUOTE
Almost two centuries ago a group of disturbed men met in the small Pennsylvania State House they gathered to decide on a course of action. Behind the locked and guarded doors they debated for hours whether or not to sign the Declaration which had been presented for their consideration. For hours the talk was treason and its price the headsman's axe, the gallows and noose. The talk went on and decision was not forthcoming. Then, Jefferson writes, a voice was heard coming from the balcony:
They may stretch our necks on all the gibbets in the land. They may turn every tree into a gallows, every home into a grave, and yet the words of that parchment can never die. They may pour our blood on a thousand scaffolds and yet from every drop that dyes the axe a new champion of freedom will spring into birth. The words of this declaration will live long after our bones are dust.
To the mechanic in his workshop they will speak hope; to the slave in the mines, freedom; but to the coward rulers, these words will speak in tones of warning they cannot help but hear. Sign that parchment. Sign if the next moment the noose is around your neck. Sign if the next minute this hall rings with the clash of falling axes! Sign by all your hopes in life or death, not only for yourselves but for all ages, for that parchment will be the textbook of freedom the bible of the rights of man forever.
Were my soul trembling on the verge of eternity, my hand freezing in death, I would still implore you to remember this truth God has given America to be free.
As he finished, the speaker sank back in his seat exhausted. Inspired by his eloquence the delegates rushed forward to sign the Declaration of Independence. When they turned to thank the speaker for his timely words he couldn't be found and to this day no one knows who he was or how he entered or left the guarded room.
They may stretch our necks on all the gibbets in the land. They may turn every tree into a gallows, every home into a grave, and yet the words of that parchment can never die. They may pour our blood on a thousand scaffolds and yet from every drop that dyes the axe a new champion of freedom will spring into birth. The words of this declaration will live long after our bones are dust.
To the mechanic in his workshop they will speak hope; to the slave in the mines, freedom; but to the coward rulers, these words will speak in tones of warning they cannot help but hear. Sign that parchment. Sign if the next moment the noose is around your neck. Sign if the next minute this hall rings with the clash of falling axes! Sign by all your hopes in life or death, not only for yourselves but for all ages, for that parchment will be the textbook of freedom the bible of the rights of man forever.
Were my soul trembling on the verge of eternity, my hand freezing in death, I would still implore you to remember this truth God has given America to be free.
As he finished, the speaker sank back in his seat exhausted. Inspired by his eloquence the delegates rushed forward to sign the Declaration of Independence. When they turned to thank the speaker for his timely words he couldn't be found and to this day no one knows who he was or how he entered or left the guarded room.
I came accross this web site and thought it might be appropriate to add here:
What happened to them
Happy 4th to everyone!
What happened to them
QUOTE
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.
These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more.
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.
These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more.
Happy 4th to everyone!
Some words for this Independence Day:
The United States of America means HOME to me.
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY, EVERYBODY!
QUOTE(Theodore Roosevelt)
Our country offers the most wonderful example of democratic government on a giant scale that the world has ever seen; and the peoples of the world are watching to see whether we succeed or fail...
We believe in all our hearts in democracy; in the capacity of the people to govern themselves; and we are bound to succeed, for our success means not only our own triumph, but the triumph of the cause of the rights of the people throughout the world, and the uplifting of the banner of hope for all the nations of mankind.
- Saratoga, New York
September 27, 1910
We believe in all our hearts in democracy; in the capacity of the people to govern themselves; and we are bound to succeed, for our success means not only our own triumph, but the triumph of the cause of the rights of the people throughout the world, and the uplifting of the banner of hope for all the nations of mankind.
- Saratoga, New York
September 27, 1910
The United States of America means HOME to me.
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY, EVERYBODY!
Lovely quotes, all. Happy Fourth of July, AD'rs!
Another interesting bit of trivia: I heard this morning that the tune for the Star Spangled Banner was originally an old British drinking song. So raise a toast to the red, white and blue!
Another interesting bit of trivia: I heard this morning that the tune for the Star Spangled Banner was originally an old British drinking song. So raise a toast to the red, white and blue!
QUOTE
To Anacreon in Heaven, where he sat in full glee,
A few sons of harmony sent a petition,
That he their inspirer and patron should be.
When this answer arrived from that jolly old Grecian:
Voice, fiddle and flute no longer be mute,
I’ll lend you my name and inspire you to boot,
And besides I’ll instruct you like me to entwine
The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’ vine."
further verses can be found here
A few sons of harmony sent a petition,
That he their inspirer and patron should be.
When this answer arrived from that jolly old Grecian:
Voice, fiddle and flute no longer be mute,
I’ll lend you my name and inspire you to boot,
And besides I’ll instruct you like me to entwine
The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’ vine."
further verses can be found here
The New York Times today had several op ed pieces addressing independence and the Fourth of July. One, by Barbara Ehrenreich, revisited the Declaration of Independence and part of it reminded me of DreamPipEr's contribution here:
I hope everyone had a good - and, perhaps, thoughtful - day.
QUOTE
"And for the support of this Declaration . . . we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." Today, those who believe that the war on terror requires the sacrifice of our liberties like to argue that "the Constitution is not a suicide pact." In a sense, however, the Declaration of Independence was precisely that.
By signing Jefferson's text, the signers of the declaration were putting their lives on the line. England was then the world's greatest military power, against which a bunch of provincial farmers had little chance of prevailing. Benjamin Franklin wasn't kidding around with his quip about hanging together or hanging separately. If the rebel American militias were beaten on the battlefield, their ringleaders could expect to be hanged as traitors.
They signed anyway, thereby stating to the world that there is something worth more than life, and that is liberty. Thanks to their courage, we do not have to risk death to preserve the liberties they bequeathed us. All we have to do is vote.
By signing Jefferson's text, the signers of the declaration were putting their lives on the line. England was then the world's greatest military power, against which a bunch of provincial farmers had little chance of prevailing. Benjamin Franklin wasn't kidding around with his quip about hanging together or hanging separately. If the rebel American militias were beaten on the battlefield, their ringleaders could expect to be hanged as traitors.
They signed anyway, thereby stating to the world that there is something worth more than life, and that is liberty. Thanks to their courage, we do not have to risk death to preserve the liberties they bequeathed us. All we have to do is vote.
I hope everyone had a good - and, perhaps, thoughtful - day.
QUOTE(DreamPipEr @ Jul 4 2004, 01:48 PM)
I came accross this web site and thought it might be appropriate to add here:
What happened to them
Happy 4th to everyone!
What happened to them
QUOTE
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.
These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more.
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.
These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more.
Happy 4th to everyone!
This truly goes to show what they fought for.. and reminding us that we should work not to destroy it but to better this.
I know it's a little late and all (library was closed sunday/monday) something wertz posted in his last post caught my attention:
indeed, they had little chance of prevailing. fortunately, franklin was smart enough to realize this so went to england's (and now, seemingly, our) biggest enemy for help. france. this little fact seems to escape all the french bashing types.
for more, check out FRANCE IN THE REVOLUTION
thanks for the help france! || ||
QUOTE
England was then the world's greatest military power, against which a bunch of provincial farmers had little chance of prevailing.
indeed, they had little chance of prevailing. fortunately, franklin was smart enough to realize this so went to england's (and now, seemingly, our) biggest enemy for help. france. this little fact seems to escape all the french bashing types.
QUOTE(http://earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/maps/yorkmap/)
In August of 1781 Cornwallis occupied York and Gloucester, on the opposite shore (shown on the map), with 7500 troops and several hundred Loyalists. Not until the first week of September was it clear to the British Commander that Washington and Rochambeau were marching toward York to attack his position. The Allied forces numbered 5700 Continentals, 3100 militia and 7000 French troops. It is clear that without the support of the French land and sea forces the victory at Yorktown would not have been possible.
for more, check out FRANCE IN THE REVOLUTION
thanks for the help france! || ||
I always have mixed feelings on July 4th. On the one hand, it was a great victory for freedom in the world - not just in America - there can be no doubt about it.
On the other, it was about the last time anyone beat the British in full scale war
.
And, the whole war thing was our own fault anyway! We drove you to it by being so damned unreasonable!
For example, I wonder how different the world would have been today had the Thirteen Colonies been offered parliamentary representation at Westminster? "No taxation without representation" would have been defused, if only temporarily (The British take on it in my school history lessons was that it was always more an objection to taxation than a demand for representation - coloured no doubt by the modern American hostility to paying tariffs and taxes).
The American constitution would certainly have been quite different, assuming you did eventually become an independent nation, had, say, Britain been as secular and democratic then as it is today, or had we built proper barracks for our troops instead of billeting them with local families.
Oh, and it seems facetious to point it out even now we're a few days past Independence Day, but the French helped you make your Revolution a success more to spite us British than to do anything noble. (Sound familiar?
)
But anyway, I wish America a belated Happy Birthday. (With maybe a Scrooge-like "bah! Humbug!" muttered under my breath )
On the other, it was about the last time anyone beat the British in full scale war
. And, the whole war thing was our own fault anyway! We drove you to it by being so damned unreasonable!
For example, I wonder how different the world would have been today had the Thirteen Colonies been offered parliamentary representation at Westminster? "No taxation without representation" would have been defused, if only temporarily (The British take on it in my school history lessons was that it was always more an objection to taxation than a demand for representation - coloured no doubt by the modern American hostility to paying tariffs and taxes).
The American constitution would certainly have been quite different, assuming you did eventually become an independent nation, had, say, Britain been as secular and democratic then as it is today, or had we built proper barracks for our troops instead of billeting them with local families.
Oh, and it seems facetious to point it out even now we're a few days past Independence Day, but the French helped you make your Revolution a success more to spite us British than to do anything noble. (Sound familiar?
)But anyway, I wish America a belated Happy Birthday. (With maybe a Scrooge-like "bah! Humbug!" muttered under my breath
)
QUOTE(Julian @ Jul 6 2004, 11:26 AM)
Oh, and it seems facetious to point it out even now we're a few days past Independence Day, but the French helped you make your Revolution a success more to spite us British than to do anything noble. (Sound familiar? )
)I never said it was because it was the noble thing to do! I mean, if I want to gain an ally against someone, do I go to someone I know to be nuetral toward them, or someone I know hates my enemy as well. I believe this is actually WHY we went to the french, knowing they would come in so they could spank the british (or at least try) the colonials were mostly british immigrants, so knew france and britian were enemies and had been for centuries. (if not millenia) even to this day, france and britian make fun of each other! (just watch monty python!)
This is a simplified version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.