If there's one truth Americans all hold to be self-evident, it's that they rightly celebrate their freedom today, July 4th, the date that appears on the Declaration of Independence.
Not so John Adams, the founding father who later became their second President.
Yes, the Fourth was the day the Continental Congress approved the Declaration, largely written by Thomas Jefferson (our future third President).
But for Adams, the true holiday was July 2nd, the day Congress actually voted for independence.
He made his case for the Second in a letter to his wife, Abigail, dated July 3rd, 1776 ... 240 years ago today.
"I believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival ..." he wrote. "It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."
And so America's Independence IS celebrated -- on July the FOURTH.
For the rest of his life, John Adams reputedly declined to take part in ANY July 4th celebration. But in the end, the Fourth sought HIM out.
John Adams died on July 4, 1826 ... the very same day as Thomas Jefferson, on the 50th anniversary of the first of our Glorious Fourths.
CBS news cullage.
Hmmmm........interesting
ReplyDeleteCongrats to them.
ReplyDeleteNice one
ReplyDeleteCongrats to them and the precedence they set with their Declaration of Independence but the words were hypocritical because they knew how it felt to be liberated from the yolk of the British King but refused 2 give blacks same freedom to determine their lives and still held them as goods and property even though they fought for same revolutionary side.
ReplyDeleteYoke**
DeleteHmmmm wooow nice one Stella.
ReplyDeleteNoted
ReplyDelete#Sometimes you have to stop dwelling on what's gone, appreciate what still remains, and look forward to what's coming next*
ReplyDeleteAnd Canadians are celebrating their pride day today,plenty stack naked man and woman in this era,my eyes have seen nwiiii
ReplyDeleteAnd Canadians are celebrating their pride day today,plenty stack naked man and woman in this era,my eyes have seen nwiiii
ReplyDeleteHappy independence day America. I will eat the good fruits of this land in Jesus name. God bless Nigeria too
ReplyDelete