Comments on: What the Fourth of July Really Means

By: David R. Jennys

David R. Jennys — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:29:20 +0000

I affirm the gist of Carlo D’Este’s article is about, in addition to the comments posted above. Two things have been left out, however: The founding Fathers stated the ideal that “all men are created equal;” in so stating they left out women. Secondly, in addition to not granting freedom to African slaves, they also overlooked the humanity and rights of Native Americans. If our great nation (and continent) is to grow even greater, we need to continue in our growth in recognizing our past mistakes (rather than glossing them over in the name of patriotism), and moving the ideal of freedom equally to ALL people.

By: Pierre Corbeil

Pierre Corbeil — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:16:01 +0000

The evil that men do lives after them/The good is oft interred with their bones. Of course the men who declared their liberty in 1776 were faillible, and had mixed motives, and some had slaves (and the authors of the Declaration of Independence had to make a compromise).
But all this is besides the point. The men of 1776 proclaimed an ideal, that all men were created equal, in the face of the class prejudices in Europe (not just England). They held on to their ideal, and set out to build a country where it would be as true as possible.
Because the ideal survived, other fighters for freedom could take example from the struggle. In France in 1789, the same ideal was proclaimed, as it was in other countries, in 1830 and later. If England has a democratic system to-day, it is because the reformers of 1832 could cite 1776 to shame their opponents.
The first sentences of the Declaration of Independence are still to-day an inspiration in the rest of the world. I am writing from Québec, Canada, where class privileges were sustained long after 1776, and where the struggle to obtain a representative system of government, which slowly was transformed into a democracy (at least in its main elements) was possible because of the example of the US right next door.
As late as 1864, the Montreal Gazette, an English-language paper, could congratulate itself that the monarchy in Mexico and the oligarchy in the CSA could balance out the low-class democracy in the USA.
The men of 1776 could not predict the future, but their example encouraged and sustained the ideal of freedom everywhere. Debate, and questioning, are important as instruments of freedom, but Americans (of course, in Québec we are Americans too !) should stand proud every July Fourth and remember that whatever the painful and obscure sides of historical events, their country will always be a source of hope for all lovers of freedom !

By: ROGER KASSEBAUM

ROGER KASSEBAUM — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:02:58 +0000

May I suggest to those that are still indignant about our history concerning the Civil War that they relocate to another geographical area outside the United States so that they can get another perspective in their reality.

By: Steve Litten

Steve Litten — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:20:45 +0000

The colonies’ revolt wasn’t about life, liberty and happiness, but about unfettering colonial capitalism & trade, and avoiding paying for (British) colonial security. The constitution was the child of the Age of Enlightenment and some vigourous horse-trading by the Congress delegates.

By: G.S.Wright

G.S.Wright — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:13:36 +0000

“more than two hundred years of reasons to be thankful” What about all those years of slavery in the south were there was 4 million slaves for 6 million southerners?And what about now, we had more freedom before the revolution. The revolution did not change anything. We have only become one giant mismanaged overtaxed police state. America is largely an example for what the rest of the world should try not to become. We do at least get to own a gun and have freedom from or freedom of religion but other than that we got nothing worth fighting for the way I see it compared to the rest of the world.

By: James

James — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:34:17 +0000

…class distinctions, indentured servants, and slavery… – odd way to distinguish between England and the US of the 18 century. I would suggest these where values both held in common at the time.

By: Kristian Wang

Kristian Wang — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:09:46 +0000

…
Tian An Men square,
was not an absence of human rights.
The young college kids started throwing rocks at the police. This offense would not go unnoticed anywhere, not even in America. Also, the kids were burning things. If the police and government did not go down and stop the protestations, it would’ve transformed into a riot where the general populace would’ve suffered more harm. It’s great shame that there is such a misunderstanding. I’m not saying that the Chinese Army did not do anything wrong:they did,but i’m saying that it’s not their fault entirely.

By: Brian King

Brian King — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:17:12 +0000

The video is very good. Every soldier should receive a similar welcome after his or her time of service.