WEEK OF THE FOURTH

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 4^th 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