July 4th
July 4th, 2007 at 11:16 am by CrankyI don’t have the talent to write an appropriately inspiring July 4th post. I will share this, though. My father’s side of the family left post-Revolution Russia for something better. They left the land of pogroms, peasantry and privation (nice alliteration there, no?) for freedom to succeed or fail on their own efforts. There is no rags to riches story here but I often reflect on the fact that this country, like precious few others on the planet, provides as much freedom, security and the right to be left alone as can reasonably be expected.
Anyway, Daisy Cutter, pixelates some great thoughts on Freedom, our imperfect Union and the way it is perceived throughout the world.
Our government is really an extension of us because we are free. We are not as free as perhaps we used to be, and we are certainly not as free as we want to be. But we are free.
And our freedom — freedom to speak, to write, to worship … or not, to work, to dream, to protest, and to vote, and to do all of the foregoing without fear — this is a call to arms to much of the world.
Thus, what the current rise of anti-Americanism really tells us is that freedom is on the decline in the world.
Also, check out the round-up of good and ludicrous 7/4 essays from around the Blogosphere. Start with the gag-worthy Olbermann quote and cleanse your palette with the good stuff at the bottom.
OK, off to photograph some toads.
July 4th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
I don’t have the talent to write an appropriately inspiring July 4th post…
…I often reflect on the fact that this country, like precious few others on the planet, provides as much freedom, security and the right to be left alone as can reasonably be expected.
Don’t sell yourself short, Cranky. You do just fine…
Happy 4th to you, your family and all the toads…
July 4th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Although I appreciate the kind words, I agree with Nigel’s sentiments, Crank. Have a great Independence Day.
July 5th, 2007 at 5:59 am
Agreed as well. The self-deprecation is charming, but you’re all talented enough writers over here. (Even Smantix, but I am whispering that because I don’t want to get screamed at again.)