Friday, July 2, 2010

Still here, still free


Founding Father and future second U.S. President John Adams had a vision 234 years ago that has been a reality for Americans for all these two centuries and more.

Declaring independence from Great Britain in 1776, Adams wrote to his wife Abigail, "will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America ... celebrated by succeeding generations ... as the day of deliverance ... to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward and forever more."

Indeed, of all national patriotic holidays, none can match the nationwide festivities, the color, the sights and sounds, the red-white-and-blue costumes and festoons of Independence Day.

Behind the annual celebrations, however, is a more serious tribute—that despite wrenching, often deadly periods of domestic strife and discord, the united collection of states foreseen by Adams and other signatories to the Declaration of Independence have remained bound together in a common democracy.

Despite moments when political malcontents and political opportunists cheapen the American experience, the United States remains the most envied nation in the world.

The fact that undocumented immigrants risk their very lives to enter the country is testament enough to U.S. attributes of human freedom.

Americans who are impatient with their government need not plan to "take back their country." The good ol' U.S. of A. is still here, perhaps in need now and then of improving on the past.




 Local Weather 
Search archives:


Copyright © 2024 Express Publishing Inc.   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.