CELEBRATING 246th IN MIDST OF THREATS

                          Happy 246th Birthday U.S.A. !

Celebrating our nation's Declaration of Independence 

                                     July 4, 1776

Yankee Doodle (1991 Remastered) 

The Robert Shaw Chorale -- Traditional Battle Cry of Freedom

Our nation's founding fathers subsequently wrote a constitution giving us a republic ... "if you can keep it" Thomas Jefferson said.

Threats from outside our country have been combatted  but perhaps none like the assault from within such as our current one involving our most recent ex-president.   We must be aware of what we are facing so that we can optimistically confront and overcome this threat to our freedom and independence.

Dangerous, frightening, challenging are only a few of the words I might use to describe these history-making years.  Efforts to convert our form of government to an autocracy appear to be that former president's undertaking.  He has proven his words cannot be trusted when he speaks of saving democracy, believing in law and order since his actions are just the opposite.  

His political party and most of their senators and house representatives appear to support him given their public stance.  Only a few of their number have had the courage to publicly oppose that ex-president.

Even our Supreme Court has made court rulings jeopardizing our system including some years ago when a ruling allowed contributions of what has become excessive amounts of corrupting funds to begin unduly influencing our political campaigns.  

Most recently a newer combination of SCOTUS judges appear to be making rulings based more on political ideology using warped constitutional interpretations.  

They have taken away a woman's right to control her own body's health with a ruling that may even threaten other individual rights.  Gun rights have been expanded endangering citizens even more.  The separation of church and state has been undermined which is most counter to our constitution.  Environmental health protections have been weakened with other adverse rulings possibly in the offing.

Election systems throughout our country are in danger of being corrupted by this ex-president and his supporters.  Their efforts to suppress voting continues in selected states to acquire power by any means, legal or otherwise persists.  Lies and false conspiracy theories continue to be spread by our ex-president and his supporters.

An attempt to prevent a peaceful transfer of Presidential power occurred in a seditious act January 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol.  Currently, the U.S. House Committee on January 6th is conducting hearings on that insurrection to establish how it occurred and who was involved.  Our Attorney General's office will determine if the facts reveal accountability for what appears to have been a coup effort.

Much testimony suggests the ex-president demands individual allegiance to him over all else.  This is contrary to government officials' oath being first and foremost to the U.S. constitution.   Morality and ethical behavior appear to be mostly lacking in those previous administration officials.  Many refuse to testify under oath to the committee.

Given all these circumstances, my thoughts move along the full spectrum of positive to negative views then back again to our nation's future as events unfold.  I am determined to believe our nation's democratic republic grand experiment will overcome this threat from within to which we are being subjected.

Democracy is  fragile.   We the people have the power to keep this independence for which many died those many years ago and in subsequent years.  Our elections will be critical. 

I realize most if not all reading here likely recognize all that I've written.  I refuse to be discouraged and hope you will not be either.  This coming patriotic holiday simply arouses thoughts and feelings in me I feel compelled to express.   I am optimistic that truth and real justice will prevail however long is required.  

Happy Fourth of July to one and all ! 

FAMILY -- CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE -- AGING

 Celebrating Independence Day -- July 4th!

Let us preserve our independence, democracy, freedoms, by re-pledging our allegiance to the  United States Constitution this year and for future years.

Following the Constitutional Convention in 1787 Benjamin Franklin, one of the founders of our country is reported to have been asked, "Do we have a republic or a monarchy?"  His reply was, "A republic, if you can keep it!"

Our democratic republic was threatened during the previous federal government administration like never before as select officials acted in ways that could be interpreted as violating their oath of office and threatening our republic.  Even now numerous legislators are reticent in defending our form of government.

May we not succumb to being governed by anyone, including a future or former leader who seeks primary allegiance to him/herself,  rather than our Constitution, takes actions to undermine our democracy that leads to establishing another form of government such as an autocracy, monarchy, theocracy. 

Let us remember bipartisan election officials across this nation have unequivocally stated 2020 was our most secure Presidential election so we should reject those false conspiracy theories that state otherwise.

We must persist in establishing true equality for everyone, safeguard voting rights for all without suppressive efforts aimed toward some, despite political efforts and selective judicial rulings otherwise.

Let us continue to pursue social and financial equality for all our citizens regardless of race, creed, color, sexual gender.

May all those who planned, supported and participated in the Capitol January 6th insurrection be identified and prosecuted with preventative actions to ensure such an activity never again occurs.

May American patriots re-dedicate ourselves to supporting and preserving the United States of America's constitution, our democratic republic and our planet's environment.

FAMILY  DELIGHT

We continue having high hot temperatures in our Southern California drought conditions.  Uninterrupted electric power provides much-needed air conditioning I certainly appreciate.  Fortunately, water rationing has not been necessary to date.   

I feel emotionally rejuvenated following a visit the past week with a few of those still living family members who drove halfway across our country to my home.  We always have a variety of frequent virtual communications throughout the year, but with the pandemic we did not see one another in person for much too long.  What a delight to hug a young grandson who has grown immensely since last I saw him as he prepares to enter 5th grade.

I especially benefited from having my son aid me by performing numerous long overdue tasks to enhance my ability to more comfortably keep living in place independently in my home.   There is much more work to be done that will continue to be my focus.  He may be able to return in the future to provide more assistance.  

Unfortunately, aging's effects have slowed my work efforts considerably, including my determination to reducing my possessions, so my progress is slow.  Also, I expect I'm not alone in finding performing everyday necessities I once considered as incidental in life requiring minimal time and effort have now become much more prominent major time-consuming activities.

In the mix for me will be finally getting crowned -- not the royalty variety -- following another earlier root canal.  I will continue my weekly blog post here but visiting other's blogs to comment may be lessened, as this past week, while I order my life a bit more.

INDEPENDENCE DAY 2012

Independence Day celebrations are occurring across these United States.  My community has an annual parade, then a fireworks spectacular in the evening.   In years past our young children rode their decorated bikes down the shaded tree-lined boulevard past our city Memorial Park.    At night some years we parked in a Claremont Colleges parking lot to observe the sky-filled fireworks, missing only the ground displays since we weren't in the grandstands. 

Other years we drove part way up Mt. Baldy Road parking in a pull off spot overlooking the entire mountain valley allowing us to view fireworks displays in a multitude of communities.   Recent years I've attended with friends open-air spectacular concert extravaganzas about which I've written here previously.   I'm quite content some years to observe TV's colorful  4th of July coverage in locations around the U.S.  One TV  favorite of mine is the Boston Pops Orchestra.

Here's our ".. traditional July 4th celebration in Claremont, a city 25 miles east of LA, with games, booths, marching bands and, of course, fireworks. July 4th 2006."

3:37

Here are a couple of colorful fireworks displays from other communities in recent years:

Seattle Fireworks: 4th of July 2005


2:52

4th of July fireworks in Boston 2006


2:26

HAPPY 4th OF JULY TO ALL!

U.S.A. 235th BIRTHDAY

The United States of America celebrates our 235th birthday this July 4th as we
commemorate the signing of our Declaration of Independence from Great Britain.

Much nation building continued through the following years. Actual ratification of our written U. S. Constitution containing the Bill of Rights delineating our individual freedoms occurred eleven years later. Subsequently our constitution has been amended twenty-seven times adapting to changing times. Today we face serious challenges as this republic's grand experiment with democracy continues.

Throughout our two hundred plus years our country has been overtly and covertly attacked by individuals, groups, ideologies dedicated to undermining our way of life, or blatantly imposing their own governmental systems on our nation. These forces have come from outside our country and, sometimes from within.

Our populace sometimes even undermines our nation's own best interests. Some well-intentioned elected officials we've chosen to conduct the country's business on our behalf have failed to effectively do so for too many years. Also, our capitalistic system has been abused -- running amok in a long festering financial debacle. We've finally reached a point in time when our nation is threatened with financial bankruptcy.

So, we must continue making our views known to our government officials, coupled with the admonition that they MUST reach agreement to resolve this issue.

Meanwhile, this 4th of July we celebrate our nation's birthday with the expectation the current crisis will be averted.

Art/Nature/Environment Thoughts

Celebrating our Nation's Independence

I've been thinking about what the arts to which we are attracted say about us as individuals. I was viewing a television program featuring paintings of Monet the French painter, who is among my favorites. I like the attention Monet gives to water, reflections, light on many of his canvases.

Then, I was reminded that another famous artist to whom I have long been attracted is Debussy. He, too, focuses on water in some of his work, but with music.

I long ago became aware that whenever I use visual imagery for relaxation, the scenes my mind often conjures are mental pictures of water. Often I'm sitting alone in a boat gracefully resting on the calm clear blue waters of a small lake that in turn is surrounded by a narrow sandy beach leading to green forests of tall majestic trees.

Since I started writing here and subsequently in a writing class, I have sometimes used metaphors to describe my feelings. I have noted the emergence of the language of water, including references to streams, creeks, rivers, lakes, oceans, waves, storms, rain and its variations.

Our natural environment and nature is such a part of life for so many of us. We value those park and wilderness areas around us. We attempt to bring some part of that nature to our homes. Some of us delight in carefully designed and planted garden areas -- a specific place for certain plants and flowers, all planned much as certain types of artists organize the color in their paintings.

Others prefer plants, flowers in random placement much as they would appear in nature. Some have a combination of both approaches. I have lived with the structured design that clearly conveys to me the desire, or need, to exercise control over one more aspect of life.

What I know is that I prefer and feel most comfortable in the setting where the randomness of nature prevails, where nature is permitted to exercise some freedom, too. Just as I do not want to overwhelm and impose myself upon nature, I do not want nature's plants, vegetation, flowers to do the same to me, and so we reach agreement with each other.

Our Nation At Risk

Two Hundred and Thirty-One Years

Our nation's birthday, our 231st, July 4, 2007, is past. Our citizens have celebrated this year, each in our own way, across this country. Many small communities from coast to coast sponsor patriotic parades, generally composed of local residents. This has been true wherever I've lived, in the east and now here in the west. In addition to the parade of the military representatives from all branches of the service, and those still living from the various wars fought for our freedoms, we generally see city officials riding by, the local high school bands marching proudly, antique autos being driven by their owners accompanied by festively dressed family and friends.

Often there are red, white and blue streamers colorfully decorating bicycles ridden by young people of the community wheeling down the parade route. Some older bikers may be pulling equally colorful wagons filled with smaller children. Special novelty groups often band together and march, such as the precision team brief case brigade, business and professional men and women with their brief cases in hand engaging in various maneuvers. Residents of all ages line the streets, conversing and laughing with loved ones, often waving miniature American flags, applauding or calling to those recognized marchers. Each community probably creates and gives some unique quality to their parade.

Some 4th of July celebrations this year may even be postponed by a few citizens until this coming weekend, since this day fell on a Wednesday, exactly in the middle of the week. Actually, I'm having such a delayed celebration myself, with dear friends whose family will be coming from far and wide as is their annual tradition. I have considered our family, and now that there's just myself, quite fortunate over these years to have been so generously included in some of their annual celebration of various holidays.

For most in our country our Independence Day celebration occurs on the fourth, however. Often when the parade has passed, some watchers adjourn to nearby parks or recreation areas for picnics featuring the special fare each individual group prefers. Others may return home for outdoor barbecues with invited groups of friends and family. Those with access to a swimming pool will cool themselves in those waters. The children and young adults will engage in seemingly exhausting pool play consisting of games, diving, just generally splashing around in the water. Some adults may soon tire of water game participation, retiring to sun themselves or recline in available shade. Young lovers may separate from the group seeking privacy.

Later in the afternoon certain groups may travel to nearby designated stadium areas where special entertainment has been planned. Musical groups may appear, then as the skies darken, the entertainers show concludes, the real show that everyone came to see begins. Fireworks slowly explode into grander and more spectacular displays in that golden moon and star sprinkled sky that mesmerizes those watching.

The times have changed from the days of my childhood, even from those of my children when we often had some small select firecrackers we could light ourselves. I recall especially the sparklers, and snakes. Fireworks can no longer be purchased or set off for private individual use in our community, or that of surrounding cities. This is especially critical this year due to the dryness so early in the season that has our area a high fire risk. I can't help thinking that fire is not the only risk, that not just our community faces, but our whole country.

As our nation begins another year, the very foundation of our belief system, that was the basis for the founding of this country, is under duress. The strong values and moral beliefs the founders of our country endorsed, wrote into our Constitution and described in our Declaration of Independence have been under assault from within. We have seen this in many ways during the governance of our current administration including, but not limited to, their stating deliberate blatant falsehoods, disregarding human rights, engaging in practices above the law.

If you were busy celebrating our nation's Independence Day, as many were, maybe you missed at least two special blog posts, there are others. I would highly recommend you read these July 4th posts now. They pertain to our Declaration of Independence, why our founders sought independence in the first place, and the significance of those issues for each of us today.

You may click on these links to access these July 4th posts at:

"Time Goes By" - "The Fourth of July 2007" by Ronni Bennett

"Nobody Asked" - "Whither Liberty" by Winston Rand