Independence Day

Good afternoon everyone.

Today is the 4th of July. Not one of my favorite holidays (but still a day off of work and school). Don’t get me wrong, I’m not being ‘Anti-America’ or anything, but it’s just the normal celebrations of fireworks and such I find a little boring. Sure fireworks are pretty, but I don’t think that they should be the center of the day. After all, it is Independence Day, the day that the Rebels and visionaries of the New World declared independence from The Crown. That is a lesson to take to heart on this day. To remember what we stand for as a nation, which is Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Important thoughts in these times, given the current political climate and economy woes.

Also on this subject, one of the most recognizable symbols of our country is the Statue of Liberty. Every one knows where it came from (France), but not everyone knows the story of the words on it (you know the “tired, hungry huddled masses” thing). Basically, after we got the thing, there was a fund raising effort for the Statue of Liberty for who knows what, and a woman named Emma Lazarus was asked to contribute a poem to help the effort, and part of the poem was inscribed there. So, all, I will leave you to your celebrations (with or without fireworks) with the poem in its entirety. So, here you are, The New Colossus, by Emma Lazarus:

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she

With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

~ Emma Lazarus [1883]

That’s all folks! Happy Independence Day!

T