Happy Independence Day!

The first battles of the Revolutionary War began in 1775.  Many of the colonists did not desire complete independence from Great Britain.  That changed somewhat after Thomas Paine wrote and distributed his pamphlet Common Sense which presented both moral and legal arguments to persuade the colonists to join in on the fight for an egalitarian government.  By July 2, 1776 the Continental Congress voted for independence.  On July 4, 1776 delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence drafted by Thomas Jefferson.  We have been proudly celebrating our independence proudly and loudly with fireworks ever since!

A few quotes to ponder while we celebrate our independence. 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
–Thomas Jefferson

“When the people fear the government there is tyranny, when the government fears the people there is liberty.” –John Basil Barnhill”

“My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular.” –Adlai Stevenson

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”–Ronald Reagan

Joy