The Fourth of July
By Ruby Hawk
@RubyHawk (99367)
Atlanta, Georgia
July 1, 2018 12:58pm CST
Independence Day is coming up this week so maybe it's time for us to think about why we're celebrating.. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and it was passed on July 4, 1776. It states:
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 them 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 abolish it .
Jeffersons warning about human rights went unheeded. Within a century it led to a war to alter a government, and freed the slaves.
16 people like this
19 responses
@rebelann (117220)
• El Paso, Texas
1 Jul 18
I don't see anything specifically about negro rights but it did mention ALL MEN, nevermind women, meaning any ethnic group where there are men. Women were still treated like property to be owned, insulted and abused by men around them.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jul 18
You mean there is an actual historical reason behind the holiday? I thought it was just a day for us to get drunk and blow sh*t up! haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul 18
@RubyHawk We don't have any parades locally, but I did get to watch the fireworks...twice! Gainesville shoots their fireworks off on July 3rd, and then all the neighboring towns shoot their fireworks on the 4th. So I always get to see two fireworks shows to celebrate the holiday!
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
9 Jul 18
@moffittjc Good! Two’s always better than one. We used to enjoy parades and fireworks but traffic has gotten so bad! We stayed in and watched it on tv.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
3 Jul 18
its sad many forget the meaning of the holiday and just care about partying.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
3 Jul 18
@RubyHawk right. that's why its such a party holiday for people. because they either don't care to know, or are just jerks.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
4 Jul 18
@Courtlynn Will you go out to see paradise and fireworks? I'm watching at home. I don't want to get out in the madness of traffic.
1 person likes this
@xstitcher (39022)
• Petaluma, California
4 Jul 18
Thank you for the history reminder.
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
5 Jul 18
And I keep asking why do we say Happy 4th of July to each other and not Happy Birthday America??? 
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
4 Jul 18
July 4 here was formerly celebrated as Philippine-American Friendship Day. but now, it is any ordinary day already. no legal holiday, no activities.
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
1 Jul 18
It is amazing how much these men did to get our Independence, sometimes we have to sit back and realize how young our country is and how we are just an "sweet unfinished symphony" (one of my favorite lyrics in Hamilton).
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (148730)
• Roseburg, Oregon
2 Jul 18
Thanks for writing about this. Many for get the meaning behind our holidays.
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
2 Jul 18
I took the time to read the Declaration of Independence a few years ago. I never read it in school, and only knew the famous paragraph. It was illuminating to say the least.
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
3 Jul 18
Enjoy your special day. I suppose lots of activities are lined up
