Happy 4th of July!
Long may our flag and country live to prosper!
You’ve heard it all before since the time you were a toddler to those who may live to 100. The glorious fourth of July! It comes, but once a year.
On that day flags waved. On 9/11, our flags waved. During WAR, our flags waved!
What does it really mean to all of us? To see fireworks at night? To see parades, floats, and fire engines?
To some people, it’s a time of reflection. To give thanks. To let Freedom Ring!
To other people, it means to celebrate WAR. To remember as military personnel they lay their lives on the line for our great nation. To wear their own Badges of Courage so others can enjoy the freedoms so dearly won for our country.
WAR is an evil necessity. To maintain freedom, one must fight to preserve it. Or should they? Are there any among us who disagree?
Some of the Greeks once thought so. So much so they wrote a play about the Greek women refusing to let their men go off to war and fight it by refusing sex. Hard to believe, huh fellahs?
John Adams said: “When we celebrate our great cause, we’ll celebrate with fireworks heard all over our country and all over the world.” Was he wrong? Should the colonies remained property of Great Britain? It’s hard to say. Revisionist history always has a better answer or a better solution.
The solution has been in the making for 243 years. Who’s to say? Look at India. Under British domain until the 20th century. They’re still paying the price of British occupation.
Yet, lots of Americans are involved with Royalty and the royal family. Are they missing what their forefathers have the foresight to throw out of our collective colonies? Is Freedom worth the price of fighting for ideals, beliefs, common ground, and dissatisfaction with the ruling household?
Speaking of ruling households, should the 4th of July be remembered as a time for showing-off military displays of power? Tanks? Attack planes? Marching soldiers with or without the goosesteps? Do these types of active displays bother you? Should your government waster your tax dollar to put on a display for his and his family’s mutual enjoyment?
Is this a one up-man-ship to North Korea, Putnin’s Russian, Iran, Iraq, the list here is enormous. I’ll keep it brief. What do we gain by this show and tell of power? Is it necessary to display our war prowess to countries already knowing our military strengths? Who are we trying to impress?
It use to be that the United State’s Statue of Liberty was the first friend an immigrant saw when entering U.S. waters. Can we say it’s the same as it was then? Is America being put on display when show casing our freedom on a large scale? If you’re happy and you’re know it, clap your hands.
Funny, I don’t hear many hands clapping.
Yes, it’s the 4th of July. Old Glory is marching: “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory (The Battle Hymn of the Republic) The United Methodist Hymnal Number 717, Text: Julia Ward Howe, 1819-1910
Music: USA campmeeting tunem Tune: BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC, Meter: 15 15 15.6 with Refrain
| 1. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; he is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; he hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword; his truth is marching on. Refrain: Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! His truth is marching on.2. I have seen him in the watchfires of a hundred circling camps, they have builded him an altar in the evening dews and damps; I can read his righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps; his day is marching on. (Refrain)3. He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; he is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment seat; O be swift, my soul, to answer him; be jubilant, my feet! Our God is marching on. (Refrain)4. In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, with a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me; as he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free, while God is marching on. (Refrain)5. He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave, he is wisdom to the mighty, he is honor to the brave; so the world shall be his footstool, and the soul of wrong his slave. Our God is marching on. (Refrain) |
Until next time… .