4th

I will make this clear. I do not profess to be anything but a secret closet musical fan. This seems more timely than ever.



I will also not pretend to be anything other than more than slightly depressed today. This is a holiday that for me takes this country back to its roots, rather than thinking about present day, which is some solace. I wonder where we got off track, however. This used to be an excellent country. I cannot read this without feeling some swell of pride.

"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.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." ~The Declaration of Independence, July 4th 1776

Thomas Jefferson. That's just perfect, isn't it? I love everything about that.

Today I am not optimistic about my country, but I shall be celebrating my fourth thusly: thinking about the past, hoping for the future, ignoring the news, and eating my hotdogs. Have a good one.