July 4, 1776

[Crossfire]

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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.

[Keith B]

[hounddog]

I'm a U.S.Navy veteran but I want to salute all those who've gone before us to pave the way in our great country. Thanks, and God Bless.

[baldeagle]

How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy! ~Thomas Jefferson

Perhaps Thomas would be comforted that not much has changed in this regard since his day.

[longtooth]

[chuck j]

Happy 4th to everyone !

[fickman]

I love my country and am grateful for the men who sacrificed their lives and fortunes for her freedom.



I'm also grateful that the contagious spirit of freedom inspired the Mexican revolutionaries to gain their independence from Spain, and that our Texas forefathers then fought and died to free us from a tyrannical Mexican government that threw away the 1824 Constitution. We wouldn't have our Texas independence day without the U.S. independence day.



I also love to point out that the British flag never flew sovereign over Texas soil.

[chuck j]

I agree but it did fly over Washington at one time in August 1814 , they also burned the White House .

[fickman]

I agree but it did fly over Washington at one time in August 1814 , they also burned the White House .

We were still Spain here when that happened.