Despite our dear President’s tanks rolling down Pennsylvania Avenue like a bad action film, the 4th seems to be down several quarts; poignancy commemorating freedom on the lam.
Makes me think of Teddy, our 26th President, when he sent the Great White Fleet around the world during peacetime reminding our neighbors that we were always ready, but was classy about it, walking softly, carrying that big stick.
It wasn’t a tacky, hyped up exhibition at Epcot.
Our Founders who fought so nobly must be frowning from the ether wondering why Liberty lost lots of her luster.
When I grew up, my mother hoisted the American Flag from the upstairs porch that waved alongside sheets and towels billowing on our clothesline.
My Dad’s job was to put up the one in front of the house that I so remember was America the Beautiful at her best.
I was taught to be proud to be an American, and that no matter what happens, we’ll always be the greatest country in the world.
The Land of the Free.
When I see pictures of the Immigration Detention Centers filled with distressed children, my heart strings play Taps. 
I think of Emma Lazarus’s sonnet at the base of the Statue of Liberty she never knew was so immortalized, dying of TB at the age of 38…
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to be free…”
and truly want to cry along with our esteemed predecessors I feel worthy to speak for….
The 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence.
John Adams
Samuel Adams
Josiah Bartlett
Carter Braxton
Charles Carroll
Samuel Chase
Abraham Clark
George Clyme
William Ellery
William Floyd
Benjamin Franklin
Elbridge Gerry
Button Gwinnet
John Hancock
Lyman Hall
Benjamin Harrison
John Hart
Joseph Hewes
Thomas Heyward, Jr
William Hooper
Stephen Hopkins
Francis Hopkinson
Samuel Huntington
Thomas Jefferson
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Richard Henry Lee
Francis Lewis
Philip Livingston
Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Thomas McKean
Arthur Middleton
Lewis Morris
Robert Morris
John Morton
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
William Paca
John Penn
Robert Treat Paine
George Read
Caesar Rodney
George Ross
Benjamin Rush
Edward Rutledge
Roger Sherman
James Smith
Richard Stockton
Thomas Stone George Taylor
Charles Thomson
Matthew Thornton
George Walton
William Whipple
William Williams
James Wilson
John Witherspoon
Oliver Wolcott
George Wythe
Let Freedom Ring…
PLEASE…for them.
A Patriot
Susannah, when we were last in Russia, 23 years ago, there were abandoned tanks scattered here and there. I never thought of tanks as a symbol of freedom.
Words are freedom. We can say and write our opinions without fear.
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Hear Hear Skinny. I’m about to Google Crosby Stills and Nash’s version of My Country Tis of Thee. Have you ever heard it? It will give you a lovely patriotic chill. Happy 4th.
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Interesting parallels with Red Square on 9th May. Have Donald and Vladimir been colluding? 😉
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Who knows. It’s all so murky not to mention scary. Our President is like a mine field. Any minute he’ll blow one of our limbs off. sigh
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Take two 😉
You have a way with the phrase, Ms Susannah! “the 4th seems to be down several quarts; poignancy commemorating freedom on the lam.:
It is a weird day indeed when your president chooses friggen tanks to celebrate the 4th of July… I wonder if he is one of those who fall under the category of “It’s a day off. We celebrate with fireworks. We are celebrating… um… I dunno…”
What would those signers of the Declaration of Independence think of today’s United States of America?
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They were simple men with great courage. If they hadn’t succeeded they all would have been brutally executed courtesy of the King of England. Ben Franklin had said…either we hang together or we hang alone. What’s my point? That President Donald J. Trump should read up on his history…
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Ya… good luck with that last point 😉
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Was perusing his speech when he mentioned the Founders. I also got a comment praising him and how I missed the point of him honoring the Military. I deleted it. Aside from this person being someone I know who just won’t go away, I blanched at my refusal to honor the First Amendment. I’m just not a Trump Honoree, since the word honor seems the word of the day.
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You do know that you can block that someone who won’t go away, don’t you?
Trump doesn’t even know the meaning of honour. He has no business ever using it.
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Apparently he made a boo boo in his speech history wise. Surprise Surprise. Those writers I’m sure are catching hell. sigh…yeah I know I can block. Trying not to be so nutty, although…double sigh
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Yep…. Bell did become an American but AFTER he invented the phone.
Those writers don’t help him sometimes… Mind you, most times he just says his own thing anyway. Double sigh indeed…
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We have a nitwit where Jefferson sat. I ask you…
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I cannot…
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I’m sighing.
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We are in stereo
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A duet.
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In harmony!
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a capella
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No room for a false note, there…
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Google My Country Tis of Thee by CSNY
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Beautiful
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Isn’t it? It’s so short but poignant. I should have attached it to the piece but, I never do that. I’ll leave that to Frank and Mr. Imma.
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Why don’t you? I do it occasionally as well if it fits.
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To be honest, I forgot how, and presentation leaves me flat. I just write. I have so few readers anyway. My own fault.
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Your writing needs no extra fluff, anyway.
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You’re very kind.
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I’m just a tell it like it is kinda gal.
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And you cook, too. 🙂
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Occasionally. Since I’ve moved, I have made a total of two meals. TWO. Real meals outside of sandwiches… I am not inspired by my new crappy kitchen.
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Well, you can warm it up with some of your kitchen ware I’m certain you have.
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Ummm. yeah, therein is the rub. My kitchen is maybe a fourth of the size of the other one. I don’t know where to put my shit!!
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Can you get one of those racks that hang from the ceiling? We all have one here in mini kitchen Noo Yawk.
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Not really. The previous owners at some time renovated the kitchen – in adding extra cupboards, covered two light switches! I have to open a cupboard door to turn on the light! Let’s just say that a new renovation is in my future should I choose to remain here…
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Nothing you have to decide today.
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Nope. But soon.
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Like hearing that. You’re worth it Dale, no matter what.
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A brilliant post about a sad situation.
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I never feel the word brilliant ever applies to me, but I do agree it’s a sad situation. Happy 4th Frank. I’m sure you’ve heard My Country Tis of Thee by Crosby Stills and Nash. It’s so, so beautiful.
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Disagree – you are a good writer, so brilliant is a good descriptor for this post. 🙂 … Regarding CSNY – Yes, a good one – FYI: CSNY will be in the next concert series (July 13th).
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OOPS…forgot Mr. Young. 🙂
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We are witnessing Nationalism and not Patriotism in Washington this July 4th. There is a difference. :O(
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It’s a dog and pony show Paul. I don’t know what else to say.
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Yeah, you’re so right, Susannah. I do know this though, he’s determined to take every gullible American for a ride. Especially those who worship him no matter what it is he does, or no matter how unethical or unlawful it may be—of which I’m sure he’s guilty of both. What’s truly amazing, however, is how this repulsive and loathsome snake oil salesman manages to pull the wool over so many American’s eyes, while being (so blatantly obvious) a dim-witted imbecile? That fact defies any rational explanation except to ask; is the marginal number of people who blindly follow him really that un-American and appallingly deplorable, or are they truly that ignorant of the principles this nation was founded upon? One thing is certain: they clearly desire an uglier, selfish, and unsimpathetic version of America. So far (sadly), the majority of America has been unable to reach them, and the seeds Putin has sown are growing—and that IS SCARY.
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It bewilders me too, the following he has, and the message he gives. Every man for himself. Unity is gone. I know someone who I’ve been friends with for 30 years who likes him, and he’s not the same person I knew. He’s cold and selfish, only cares about money and business. Like he was brainwashed. The world is evaporating as we know it Paul and so are some of those closest to us.
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Oh, it’s so sad. It’s all so heartbreaking to see. I think now the majority of Americans are gaining a better understanding of how our forefathers must have felt when their voice was being stifled by King George and his troops. No understanding; no caring; no desire to compromise for a common good. Just, my way or the highway. No wonder the revolution came about—no choice.
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I just saw this, so forgive the tardy reply. Yeah, we would have been really fucked, pardon my parlance, if the French didn’t show up, thanks to Lafayette and Ben Franklin convincing them we were worthy of help. Of course, it didn’t hurt that they hated England so much.
I try to remember their 11th Hour Dash whenever a waiter is rude to me reeking of his last Citane.
“Lafayette, we are here,” at least we were. God help us in 2020.
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God might be the only one left that we can count on.
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And he’s often stuck in traffic. sigh
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Always seems so, doesn’t it?
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He’s a busy guy, that God.
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Must be.
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We had no choice but to take over control of their airports! 😀 If only we could take over control of Trump’s teleprompter! 😀
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He needs a few lessons, among other things.
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😀
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Let’s here it for humor Paul, that we can still smile under that gold umbrella of Mussolini’s.
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LOL. Yep, you’re right Susannah, humor is vital no doubt about it. :O)
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Yeah, it’s better than Prozac and a silo of gin.
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LOL! 😀
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I knew you’d agree.
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😀
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SB,
Sam Adams signed the declaration AND made a great beer. I don’t see anyone capable of taking on that kind of responsibility in present day.
In all seriousness, your patriotism is running on a full tank. Here’s to you, Miss Liberty. 🙂
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I’m waving my torch.
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I will salute you.
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I was much too brief the first time. Funny you mentioned Sam, John’s cousin who owned a tavern where many of the original Minute Men met to discuss their options. He was like the Den Mother, or better yet, their coach. He stayed behind the scenes but was the loudest voice. Has always interested me. And he still makes a great beer. 🙂
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To borrow from golfing vernacular, your short game and your long game are both on par. So no problema, chica. Although I do so enjoy when I get more. Who doesn’t?
Sam was a man who got shit done. Hence the beer as a payoff.
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We all could use a Sam.
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Hear hear!
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I’ll take a Sam on Tap please. Got any nuts? 🙂
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I got cashews, almonds, dry roasted and good old cocktail peanuts. Oh . .and me. 🙂
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Mr. Imma unsalted.
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Ask for it by name.
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You’re a file all unto yourself…poetic license.
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Look who’s talking.
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Are you saying we’re dueling files? Hmm
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There’s a script in there somewhere. Dueling word collectors . . .
I want Brad Pitt to play me, because yanno. He’s Brad Pitt and it would be my only chance to have blond hair. You can play yourself, stilettos and cheeky one liners. 🙂
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NO NO…younger version. I’d be like Moses in Pumps.
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It’s your casting call, but Imma keep you as my foist choice nonetheless, thank you very much.
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You really are Nathan Detroit back from the ether.
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Ahhhh. SB? You are a real . . . wait for it . . . doll.
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Wait for it…wait for it…is that the same as going wide? You’re the sports aficionado, so….
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Soooo close! I believe the term you were looking for is “going long”. Imma give you partial credit.
Go sports!
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THAT’S IT Mr. Imma. Now excuse me while I take my cleat out of my mouth. Football players wear cleats, right?
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They sure do. It’s a fashion crime, just so you know.
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Noted…:)
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I bet you would rock the eye black quite fetchingly.
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Do you mean that Tareyton thing ballplayers do to divert the sun?
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You know it.
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I’d rather fight that switch…okay…that works.
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🙂
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Wooing and smiling. OY
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Vey.
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That was stunning to end the post with a list of signers of the Declaration of Independence.
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They were all about humility. What went on yesterday at The Lincoln Memorial leaves me bewildered. The opulence. Despite some of them having substantial wealth, they were simple men.
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The signers thought deeply about freedom. I wish we would.
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You said it sista.
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It’s an ideal that we have to keep striving for. I hope that this atrocity with separating families and detaining children will end soon.
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Me too. Breaks my heart in two.
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