4th of July

I can't believe the year is half over. I had good intentions of keeping up with a blog but as you all know, life can get in the way. I'll try and do better the rest of the year! I have some new jewelry pieces that I will post as soon as I get the photos taken. In the mean time, I have a few things to say about today, the celebration of the birth of our nation. Every year, I make a point of watching the movie 1776. When I was in Jr. High, my two oldest brothers and their wives took me with them to see this and I still love this movie. Those of you that don't like musicals probably wouldn't like it, but I happen to love them. If you see this posting in time, it is coming on TCM at 11:30 this morning. It's about how the Declaration of Independence came about. One little excerpt I thought was interesting is the following. The declaration has just been written and is being reviewed (picked apart) by the Continental Congress. The following is said between Dickenson, one of the representatives from Pennsylvania and a Loyalist, Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin:

Dickenson (to Jefferson): Why do you refer to King George as a tyrant?

Jefferson: Because he is a tyrant.

Dickenson: I remind you, Mr Jefferson, that this tyrant is still your king.

Jefferson: When a king becomes a tyrant, he breaks the contract binding his subjects to him.

Dickenson: How so?

Jefferson: By taking away their rights.

Dickenson: Rights that came from him in the first place?

Jefferson: All except one. The right to be free comes from nature.

Dickenson: And are we not free, Mr. Jefferson?

Jefferson: Homes entered without warrant, citizens arrested without charge, and in many places, free assembly itself denied.

Dickenson: No one approves of such things, but these are dangerous times.

Jefferson: Those who give up some of their liberty in order to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty, nor safety.

With this day being a celebration of the signing of this document, lets reflect on the price our founding fathers paid to ensure our liberties. Let us also remember that compromise is a subtle way for us to also lose these liberties that were won at such a high price. Our nation has already compromised much. Let's do what we can to ensure that our liberties, bought at such a high price by our ancestors, remain intact.