INDEPENDENCE DAY, 1863

This Friday marks America's 232nd birthday, a celebration of government of the people, by the people and for the people. Not only were our forefathers political geniuses and courageous champions of the rights of all mankind, but they had the wise foresight to declare independence in the summertime, July 4th to be exact, the perfect time to hold a fine celebration of our nation. Our biggest national holiday just wouldn't have the same appeal if it were held in say, November, or even worse, February. Fireworks displays, barbecues, visits to the beach and baseball games don't have the same attraction in those weather-challenged months, and parades are also problematic. So add Social Calendar Savants to their titles as Founding Fathers.

This year's celebration marks a turning point in American history if only for the fact that it is the final Independence Day of the Bush The Younger Administration, a government that tried mightily to make America less American. They didn't succeed in their goal of completely dismantling the Bill of Rights and installing a Roman-style permanent ruling elite, but they did take our nation a few giant steps backwards in our journey to becoming the America of our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. So this week we can add a little gusto to our celebrations by saying good riddance to the worst administration we've ever had.

This year also marks a great opportunity to elect a president completely out of the mold of all former presidents, a black man in a nation that once enslaved blacks. Our choice this November will be that black man, Senator Barack Obama, or yet another in the parade of cynical old white pragmatists bent on world domination, in this case the 72-year old Senator John McCain. Not that the only reason to vote for Obama is his skin color, indeed that's the least of all considerations, he's just the better man for the job of restoring faith in America, both at home and abroad. Our Unity in these United States is being tested these days and our former image overseas as a champion of decency has taken a severe beating.

And the reason to worry about our image overseas is not to make people like us. Who really cares about that? If we like ourselves and do right that image will return, but the reason America used to enjoy a reputation as the champion of liberty, human rights and justice is because it was true, not just a mouthful of propaganda put out by a government looking for approval. Screw approval, just do what is right and good, and let people argue with that if they want to. Let this 4th of July be a rededication of America to American principles. There was once a 4th of July in 1863, when America was in mortal peril and torn by Civil War, when the Battle of Gettysburg ended in a Union victory. Four months later, recalling that 4th of July, Abraham Lincoln gave us the immortal Gettysburg Address, a speech that in its eloquent clarity and brevity identified forever our American ideals. Here it is:

FOUR SCORE AND SEVEN YEARS AGO OUR FATHERS BROUGHT FORTH ON THIS CONTINENT, A NEW NATION, CONCEIVED IN LIBERTY, AND DEDICATED TO THE PROPOSITION THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.

NOW WE ARE ENGAGED IN A GREAT CIVIL WAR, TESTING WHETHER THAT NATION, OR ANY NATION SO CONCEIVED AND DEDICATED, CAN LONG ENDURE. WE ARE MET ON A GREAT BATTLEFIELD OF THAT WAR. WE HAVE COME TO DEDICATE A PORTION OF THAT FIELD, AS A FINAL RESTING PLACE FOR THOSE THAT GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT THAT NATION MIGHT LIVE. IT IS ALTOGETHER FITTING AND PROPER THAT WE DO THIS.

BUT, IN A LARGER SENSE, WE CANNOT DEDICATE--WE CANNOT CONSECRATE-- WE CANNOT HALLOW--THIS GROUND. THE BRAVE MEN, LIVING AND DEAD, WHO STRUGGLED HERE, HAVE CONSECRATED IT, FAR ABOVE OUR POOR POWER TO ADD OR DETRACT. THE WORLD WILL LITTLE NOTE, NOR LONG REMEMBER WHAT WE SAY HERE, BUT IT CAN NEVER FORGET WHAT THEY DID HERE. IT IS FOR US THE LIVING, RATHER, TO BE DEDICATED HERE TO THE UNFINISHED WORK FOR WHICH THEY HAVE THUS FAR SO NOBLY ADVANCED. IT IS RATHER FOR US TO BE HERE DEDICATED TO THE GREAT TASK REMAINING BEFORE US -- THAT FROM THESE HONORED DEAD WE TAKE INCREASED DEVOTION FOR THAT CAUSE FOR WHICH THEY GAVE THE LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION -- THAT WE HERE HIGHLY RESOLVE THAT THESE DEAD SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN -- THAT THIS NATION, UNDER GOD, SHALL HAVE A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM -- AND THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE, SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THIS EARTH.

And that's the whole text of it, not a false note anywhere except when in his modesty Lincoln says the world will little note nor long remember what is said there. There were several other speakers that day, renowned orators who spoke at great length and whose words' were forgotten and little noted, but Abraham Lincoln left us with a beaut, a timeless 2 minute synopsis of what it means to be an American on that journey towards becoming the America of our ideals. Let's not let him down. Happy Independence Day, everybody.