July 4, 2009

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world..."

"... for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown.... And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

Washington Monument

10 comments:

Cabbage said...

I, for one, am damn glad my grandparents moved here.

traditionalguy said...

Tom Jefferson sounds like just another of those "Quitters" who cannot stand the heat of political battle. And did you hear about his family and the night time visits to the slaves quarters. Not only that, but there are insider rumors that he favors the French. God help us if such a monster were our leader...he might violate our Supreme Document and purchase the Louisiana territory from France, probably for a kickback, but a crime in any event. The next Leader would have to give it back (nevermind, Jimmy Carter is not that old) And did you hear about Tom Jefferson's wasting all of his time on books. He's too weird to be anything.All of this needs investigatios now.(This is the next Palin thread, isn't it?)

AllenS said...

I would like to thank my great, great, great, great grandfather, William who gave his life in 1776, during a battle at Mystic, Mass.

MadisonMan said...

I also would like to thank my great great great great grandfather William, who fought against Great Britain.

He did not perish in the Revolution, however, so AllenS and I are not distant cousins. :)

AllenS said...

Mad Man, maybe they drank some beer together at the local pub.

Unknown said...

Wonderful words.

Happy 4th, everyone!

Jeff with one 'f' said...

More proof that Althouse is a Republican!

blake said...

I would like to thank all my ancestors who avoided any wars that might have caused their demise before they got a chance to pass on their DNA.

Ralph L said...

My great, great, great grandfather was 22 and a Major in the NC cavalry when the Revolutionary War ended. Later, he was a founding trustee of UNC. By chance I discovered my brother and sister inherited 4 acres each at the site of a skirmish in 1781 in which he led men in battle. The site was a mill owned by my employers' ancestor.

It averages 40 years a generation in that line, so there are only 3 greats.

Ralph L said...

It's a little odd that they pledged "to each other", and not to their common cause. Was this because of, or the source of, Franklin's quip that they'll all hang together, or all hang separately.