On this Fourth we all should
pay heed to the above quote of Walter Niemöller: “First they came for the
socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the
trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not
speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one
left to speak for me.”
What doe the
Fourth signify? But first I must make this statement. Of all of our twentieth
century wars there were only two, WW1
and WW2, that were the only ones
fought to preserve civil liberties from the onslaught of autocratic dictatorial
governments. The Korean conflict could have been the third until McArthur
turned it into a war of aggression against North Korea. All the others have
been aggressive actions especially those in the Mid-East.
I do not
regret serving in the army in WW2 in the “Bulge” (where there was snow up to
your knees and frostbite was a big casualty risk) and making a glider landing
under AA fire with the first troops on mainland German soil. Nor do I regret,
except for the fact that I had two daughters, one whom I had never seen, at
home in Plainfield, as being with some of the first troops to occupy Berlin.
For all of
that I do have a purple heart. However ,I knew that it was for a cause; freedom
from dictatorship and loss of personal liberties.
My problem
is that today Americans seem to have forgotten what the Fourth means and have
succumbed to bigotry in race and religion,
and ignorance of Democracy in favor of a
Constitutional ignoring Autocracy. After WW2 only under the Nixon
Administration has there been such a
threat to our civil liberties.
With that said here are some facts about the
Fourth It is a federal holiday in
the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776. The Continental
Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain
and were now united, free, and independent states on July2, not the 4th
but it was not signed by a majority of members until Aug 2,1776.
Of the original signers John Adams who wrote
the following to his wife Abigail, “The
second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of
America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding
generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as
the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to
be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells,
bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from
this time forward forever more”,and Thomas Jefferson both died on the same day.
July 4, 1826.
The Articles
of Confederation and Perpetual Union
was the first constitution of the United States. It was drafted by the Second
Continental Congress from mid-1776
through late 1777, and ratification by all 13 states was completed by early
1781. The Articles of Confederation gave little power to the central
government. The Confederation Congress could make decisions, but lacked
enforcement powers. Implementation of most decisions, including modifications
to the Articles, required unanimous approval of all thirteen state legislatures
