Reflections: On A Happy Fourth of July…
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.” Benjamin Franklin
Reflections: On A Happy Fourth of July…
When my kids were little, we celebrated July 4th or Independence Day with all the pomp and pageantry it deserved; cook outs, barbeques, desserts galore, and the trip down to the waterfront to enjoy the fireworks and other entertainment organized by the village. We invited friends and neighbors over, and it was one of the few times we had several members of a family in one room. The kids loved the chance to run wild with their friends and all was well with the world… But what did it all really mean? Those gatherings reminded us of the importance of our personal freedom; our right to congregate and enjoy a meal with others without feeling as if we were under siege. We didn’t have to worry about living in a war zone, enduring food rations or any of the proverbial spoils of war. In this regard, we are fortunate in America, and we must remember to treat this day with reverence and gratitude for the Freedom and Peace we enjoy.
“Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.” Albert Einstein
Reflections: On A Happy Fourth of July…
Now that the kids are older, we don’t celebrate in quite the same way. We have a small family affair and may/may not invite a few friends over. It is still a happy occasion but different. As a matter of fact, this year, for America’s 235th birthday, we plan to celebrate the day quietly with a focus on offering prayers for peace; personal, national, and global peace. Peace is a term most don’t spend much time thinking about until they are on the verge of losing it or when all is lost to strife and war. Living in a democratic nation means we are protected from chaos and anarchy, and enjoy other protections under the law… I think it is important to remember on this day the value of our freedom, our independence and our history. Enjoy your meals and have a terrific July 4th celebration! More below!
“So, Two cheers for Democracy: one because it admits variety and two because it permits criticism” E. M. Forster
Reflections: On A Happy Fourth of July… The signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Below is a summary or an amended portion from the Declaration of Independence.
All men are created equal and there are certain unalienable rights that governments should never violate. These rights include the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. When a government fails to protect those rights, it is not only the right, but also the duty of the people to overthrow that government. In its place, the people should establish a government that is designed to protect those rights.
The colonial governments tried to reach a peaceful reconciliation of these differences with Great Britain, but were continually ignored. Colonists who appealed to British citizens were similarly ignored, despite their shared common heritage and their just cause. After many peaceful attempts, the colonists have no choice but to declare independence from Great Britain.
The new nation will be called the United States of America and will have no further connections with Great Britain. The new government will reserve the right to levy war, make peace, make alliances with foreign nations, conduct trade, and do anything else that nations do.
Every nation deserves the same inalienable rights… Enjoy yours. Happy 4th to YOU! Happy Independence Day! Stay Inspired! What are your thoughts? What does July 4th mean to you? What are your celebration plans? What do you do differently? Do share! Thank you. 
*Please bear with me as I continue to catch up on your blogs and commenting… Thank you all for your patience!
Positive Motivation Tip: Be happy for the blessings of the 4th and celebrate.
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos July 4th Cake, Declaration of Independence via Wikipedia, and Peace poster from my Personal Collection.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
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Happy Independence Day!
greetings by Flickrcomments
TY and same to you! 🙂
Always thoughtful and thought-provoking, Elizabeth. Thank you!
Thanks for the comment Naomi! Hope you enjoyed the day too. 😉
Very well said.
Have a happy and safe 4th of July 🙂
Same to you too Jim! Hope it was a joyful day for you and yours! 😉
HAPPY 4th of JULY!
TY PiP and same to you too! 🙂
Sending you blessings for the day!
Happy Independence Day!
TY Tilly! ღ˚ •。* ♥ ˚ ˚✰˚ ˛★* 。 ღ˛° 。* °♥ ˚ • ★ *˚ .ღ 。*˛˚ღ •˚ ˚ Happy Independence Day Greetings! ˚ ✰* ★˚. ★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˚ღ。* ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★ღ ˚ 。✰ •* ˚ ♥
Thank you for your kind message! 🙂
Happy Independence day from the UK.
TY so much Cobbies… so sweet of you to stop by. 😉
Happy Independence Day!
TY Milena! ღ˚ •。* ♥ ˚ ˚✰˚ ˛★* 。 ღ˛° 。* °♥ ˚ • ★ *˚ .ღ 。*˛˚ღ •˚ ˚ Happy Independence Day Greetings! ˚ ✰* ★˚. ★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˚ღ。* ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★ღ ˚ 。✰ •* ˚ ♥
Reblogged this on Milenanik3's Blog and commented:
Amazing as always
You are so kind… TY! 🙂
Happy July 4 from south-east England.
TY for your greetings and Happy 4th to you too! 🙂
ღ˚ •。* ♥ ˚ ˚✰˚ ˛★* 。 ღ˛° 。* °♥ ˚ • ★ *˚ .ღ 。*˛˚ღ •˚ ˚ Happy Independence Day Greetings! ˚ ✰* ★˚. ★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˚ღ。* ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★ღ ˚ 。✰ •* ˚ ♥
joyeux 4 juillet ! et je me joins à toi pour cette prière pour la paix mondiale !
Merci Sandra! ღ˚ •。* ♥ ˚ ˚✰˚ ˛★* 。 ღ˛° 。* °♥ ˚ • ★ *˚ .ღ 。*˛˚ღ •˚ ˚ Happy Independence Day Greetings! ˚ ✰* ★˚. ★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˚ღ。* ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★ღ ˚ 。✰ •* ˚ ♥
Reblogged this on GoodOleWoody's Blog and Website and commented:
God bless…
TY for the re-blog and sorry for the delayed reply… I’m fighting a bad summer cold. Ugh!
TY for the re-blog… I appreciate it. 😉
I don’t know if it is just getting older or if times have changed, but I know the people in my life celebrate it differently than we used to, without as much fanfare. Maybe it has just become a more thoughtful day since 9/11.
On a lighter note…the cupcake looks incredible!
I think 9/11 and the internet added something to the way we appreciate the day… Your observations are true. 😉
Happy Independence Day to you. You’re so right when you say that “every nation deserves the same unalienable rights.” From your mouth to God’s ears. 😉
Amen!ღ˚ •。* ♥ ˚ ˚✰˚ ˛★* 。 ღ˛° 。* °♥ ˚ • ★ *˚ .ღ 。*˛˚ღ •˚ ˚ Happy Independence Day Greetings! ˚ ✰* ★˚. ★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˚ღ。* ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★ღ ˚ 。✰ •* ˚ ♥
Happy 4th of July!
TY Willow! Hope had a wonderful day to! 🙂
Funny how celebrations change when the kids get older. have a happy 4th Eliz!
TY and yes, a lot changes for us all.ღ˚ •。* ♥ ˚ ˚✰˚ ˛★* 。 ღ˛° 。* °♥ ˚ • ★ *˚ .ღ 。*˛˚ღ •˚ ˚ Happy Independence Day Greetings! ˚ ✰* ★˚. ★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˚ღ。* ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★ღ ˚ 。✰ •* ˚ ♥
You remind me of the importance of peace and how having always lived in America, I often take it for granted. Happy 4th of July, Elizabeth! xo
TY Karen and it’s a reminder for me too! 🙂
Have a great and safe 4th Elizabeth!
b
Same to you too Barb! 🙂
Happy independence day Elizabeth! As much as we crib about all that is wrong with our countries and governments, the fact that we have the freedom to crib is a blessing we ought to remember.
Yes it is indeed Madhu! Such freedoms should not be taken lightly.
Happy Independence day! Love that quote about peace.
TY Catherine! ღ˚ •。* ♥ ˚ ˚✰˚ ˛★* 。 ღ˛° 。* °♥ ˚ • ★ *˚ .ღ 。*˛˚ღ •˚ ˚ Happy Independence Day Greetings! ˚ ✰* ★˚. ★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˚ღ。* ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★ღ ˚ 。✰ •* ˚ ♥
Happy 4th of July, now if you could just send me that cake … 🙂
Wish I could have some of it too… Found it through Zemanta! 😉
What a lovely reminder that a prayer for peace should be a global prayer. I, too, celebrate our American independence with a desire that everyone all over the world feel that same freedom and peace in their own homelands. Such a great reminder! Debra
TY Debra and it’s good to know that others are doing same… It is so easy to forget and take it all for granted. 😉
Happy Independence Day, Elizabeth!
TY and same to you! 🙂
ღ˚ •。* ♥ ˚ ˚✰˚ ˛★* 。 ღ˛° 。* °♥ ˚ • ★ *˚ .ღ 。*˛˚ღ •˚ ˚ Happy Independence Day Greetings! ˚ ✰* ★˚. ★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˚ღ。* ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★ღ ˚ 。✰ •* ˚ ♥
Excellent post and so thoughtful. I have thought hard about freedom today and often wonder and hope that it will remain. There are many things threatening our freedom which concern me. Our use of torture, our assistance in war and misery, the right to marry, and our rights to privacy. I also get concerned about our recent setback on immigration as weren’t we a country founded on immigrants and the freedom to follow the American dream? Will this dream remain for our children, grandchildren and future generations? Or will it be sacrificed. I think until we travel and see what we have, we truly don’t understand the meaning of freedom especially for a woman. Great post and reminder to never sacrifice our rights or let our guard down.
TY and you raise a lot of important subjects that we mustn’t forget as we go about living our lives. Freedom is not a given globally and it remains a desire of many worldwide. ღ˚ •。* ♥ ˚ ˚✰˚ ˛★* 。 ღ˛° 。* °♥ ˚ • ★ *˚ .ღ 。*˛˚ღ •˚ ˚ Happy Independence Day Greetings! ˚ ✰* ★˚. ★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˚ღ。* ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★ღ ˚ 。✰ •* ˚ ♥
A post as amazing as the fireworks in a clear Summer night sky. Happy 4th of July. May we always celebrate the freedom we were given with passion, respect and joy. Thanks for sharing.
Ty for stopping by IT! Love hearing from you too. ღ˚ •。* ♥ ˚ ˚✰˚ ˛★* 。 ღ˛° 。* °♥ ˚ • ★ *˚ .ღ 。*˛˚ღ •˚ ˚ Happy Independence Day Greetings! ˚ ✰* ★˚. ★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˚ღ。* ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★ღ ˚ 。✰ •* ˚ ♥
Happy 4th of July! (belated 🙂 )
Never too late TY! ღ˚ •。* ♥ ˚ ˚✰˚ ˛★* 。 ღ˛° 。* °♥ ˚ • ★ *˚ .ღ 。*˛˚ღ •˚ ˚ Happy Independence Day Greetings! ˚ ✰* ★˚. ★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˚ღ。* ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★ღ ˚ 。✰ •* ˚ ♥
🙂
I like that quote about Peace.
Same here too. TY! 🙂
. . . and still have calm in your heart. Thanks for the peace quote.
Thank you for your keen eye. I thought all would miss it. I like it to.
Great post. I like the comment about peace.
I hope the discourse about our freedoms and liberties will move forward instead of going ’round and ’round. If not, I’m hoping our children will galvanize and force the change one day.
I do hope it would move forward too…. We’ve spun around in circles too long. Time for a swift move. Hah!ha!
Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July full of peace and joy!
Yes I did and I hope yours was equally peaceful and productive. It was good to reminisce about it…
A belated wishes of peace and love to you on your independence celebrations
TY Dear! I was home sick again with another nasty cold… Blessings to you! 🙂
Thank you for your kind words and be blessed.
Happy 4th of July!!!! Better late than never!
TY dear Robyn! Hope all is well with your brood. It’s been a while since we played catch up, no? 🙂
Happy 4th Liz! A very thoughtful expression of what we should all be thankful for and what we should all strive to maintain for the future.
Thank you Caroline and happy 4th to you too! 🙂
It’s July 4h and Happy Independence Day for you and family.
Same to you and yours… That is if you celebrate it. 🙂
I think simplified and silent celebrations are better because it’s more intimate.
I’m glad you think so… It took a while to get there and, honestly, it’s alright to do the party and fireworks too.
Lovely post Elizabeth! You are leaving a great legacy for your children, one that everyone could benefit from. Happy Fourth to your and yours!
Thank you for your kind words… I am grateful for the opportunities that have come my way in this great country.
belated happy 4th of july! thanks for sharing your thoughts! 🙂
Thank you for your feedback. Hope yours was fun too!