One Mom

The United States of America is 232 years old today.

Thomas Jefferson was the junior member (33 years old) of the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence. The committee also included John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. It is reported that the task of drafting the document fell to Jefferson because of John Adams:

… Jefferson resisted writing the draft and suggested that Adams create it. Reputedly it was John Adams who convinced the younger Jefferson to construct the document. He told Jefferson there were three reasons why he should write the document. Reason one was that Jefferson was a Virginian and Adams thought a representative from a southern colony like Virginia should “appear at the head of this business.” Reason two, Adams continued is that “I am obnoxious, suspected and unpopular. You are very much other wise.” Reason three Adams opined is “You can write ten times better than I can.” (Leading Today)

You may read an interactive version of the Declaration of Independence at the History Channel. Throughout this interactive version, are asterisks that may be clicked on to open a small dialogue box with further information, explanation or history behind various sections of the Declaration.

The Declaration of Independence page at the History Channel, also has a quiz, biographies of the signers, and more. The History Channel also has a section with more information than you might imagine about the 4th of July.

For a little fun, visit the Capitol Fourth site at PBS where you will find an interactive fireworks display, e-cards for the 4th, and more.

Happy Birthday to the United States of America!

OneMom

President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave the following speech on the 4th of July in 1941. Powerful words then and now. I have emphasized some portions.

My fellow Americans - In 1776, on the Fourth day of July, the representatives of the several States in Congress assembled, declaring our independence, asserted that a decent respect for the opinion of mankind required that they should declare the reasons for their action. In this new crisis, we have a like duty.

In 1776 we waged war in behalf of the great principle that government should derive its just powers from the consent of the governed. In other words, representation chosen in free election. In the century and a half that followed, this cause of human freedom swept across the world.

But now, in our generation in the past few years a new resistance, in the form of several new practices of tyranny, has been making such headway that the fundamentals of 1776 are being struck down abroad and definitely, they are threatened here.

It is, indeed, a fallacy, based on no logic at all, for any American to suggest that the rule of force can defeat human freedom in all the other parts of the world and permit it to survive in the United States alone. But it has been that childlike fantasy itself that misdirected faith which has led nation after nation to go about their peaceful tasks, relying on the thought, and even the promise, that they and their lives and their government would be allowed to live when the juggernaut of force came their way.

It is simple I could almost say simple-minded-for us Americans to wave the flag, to reassert our belief in the cause of freedom and to let it go at that.

Yet, all of us who lie awake at night all of us who study and study again know full well that in these days we cannot save freedom with pitchforks and muskets alone after a dictator combination has gained control of the rest of the world.

We know that we cannot save freedom in our own midst, in our own land, if all around us our neighbor nations have lost their freedom.

That is why we are engaged in a serious, in a mighty, in a unified action in the cause of the defense of the hemisphere and the freedom of the seas. We need not the loyalty and unity alone, we need speed and efficiency and toil and an end to backbiting, an end to the sabotage that runs far deeper than the blowing up of munitions plants.

I tell the American people solemnly that the United States will never survive as a happy and fertile oasis of liberty surrounded by a cruel desert of dictatorship.

And so it is that when we repeat the great pledge to our country and to our flag, it must be our deep conviction that we pledge as well our work, our will and, if it be necessary, our very lives.

Let Freedom Ring …

OneMom

(special thanks to James R. Heintze, of the American University in Washington DC for making this available.)

For all the folks searching for the story Glenn did on autism on his show on July 1, 2008 and you ended up at my blog, welcome. Here’s the LINK to the transcript of Glenn’s show (I have only glanced at the transcript, so I won’t comment right now about the content).

While you are here, I hope you’ll take a few minutes and read my posts regarding autism, over-diagnosis and language disorders. You can find them HERE, HERE and HERE.

Thanks again for stopping by.

OneMom

Rushing here (busy doing some IT work for my husband), but had a couple thoughts to put out:

• Rumor that Mitt Romney is at the top of McCain’s VP list. I have no problem with that (don’t assume my reasons if you haven’t been reading my blog for awhile).
• McCain said he won’t name his VP until Obama does. I had a flash of an image of two little kids on the playground: “no, you go first. no you have to. ” etc.
• Gen. Clark says McCain’s military service doesn’t qualify him to be commander in chief. OK, I’m not saying I agree or disagree with that, but so far I haven’t heard Gen. Clark give any reason why Obama is better qualified.

Gotta go …

OneMom

Is it just me, or …

• is it incredibly odd for Pres. Bush to declare that North Korea is no longer part of the axis of evil? Imploding a cooling tower and sending out some paper work hardly makes me want to run out and give Kim Jong-Il a big hug.
• has James Dobson come too late to the party to be useful in this election?
• is John McCain’s campaign starting to look like Fred Thompson’s (ie, not really trying)?
• did people only care about the human rights violations in Tibet when the Olympic Torch was going around the world?
• (speaking of China), did the world’s attention span for the earthquake victims in China and the cyclone victims in Myanmar last only about 10 minutes?
• does it feel like if either Obama or McCain wins in November, that our freedoms are in great danger?
• are there people that really believe that Hillary and Obama have “kissed and made up”? I don’t think either Senator does anything without cold, self-promoting, political calculations.
• does the media promoting McCain’s photo-op with Billy and Franklin Graham as a “nod to evangelicals” make you laugh right out loud? (not because of the Grahams, who I respect greatly, but because I’m not so stupid to think that McCain’s heart has changed from the days he referred to evangelical leaders as “agents of intolerance” just because he had his picture taken with the Grahams)

Oh my …

OneMom

A quick post before turning in.

Earlier this week, my daughter and I walked to our town’s little post office to mail a thank-you note. On our way home, we came to a street where three men on Harley motorcycles had just pulled up to the stop sign. I motioned for them to go ahead. Instead, they all got off their motorcycles, bowed to us (like you might to let the queen go by). As we walked by, they smiled and each of them said something to Hannah: “I like your sunglasses”, “I like your pigtails”, “you’re really styling today”. As we got to the other side of the street, Hannah turned and waved and said “bye motorcycle guys!”.

I noticed about these three riders that despite the helmets and leather apparel, they looked like guys that probably spend most of their time behind big desks at a bank somewhere. I guess some bankers play golf and some of them ride motorcycles. Whatever, it was a bright little moment in a world where people seem to go out of their way to be rude or mean.

It gave us a smile, so I thought I’d share it with you.

Sleep sweet everybody …

OneMom

Proverbs 3:24 “When you lie down you will not be afraid. When you lie down your sleep will be sweet.”

Let me preface this with saying that I do not agree with Glenn Beck on everything. However, he does bring stories to the light of day that many people might never have realized were happening (typically something the government is trying to sneak by the American people). Yesterday he wrote an article about what conservatives believe and that he does not know who he is voting for in November (except that it won’t be Obama).

Here is a small portion (emphasis mine):

A conservative believes that debt creates unhealthy relationships. Everyone, from the government on down, should live within their means and strive for financial independence.

A conservative believes that a child’s education is the responsibility of the parents, not the government.

A conservative believes that every human being has a right to life, from conception to death.

A conservative believes in the smallest government you can get without anarchy. We know our history: The larger a government gets, the harder it will fall.

Those are the things a conservative believes in, and they’re the things that I believe in. Now, if only I could find a candidate to match.

I encourage you to stop by CNN and read Glenn’s article. At least he is choosing and eliminating candidates based on the issues.

More later …

OneMom

I’m going to get in trouble for this.

Apparently last night was the award ceremony for B.E.T. (Black Entertainment Television). The theme of the night was showing support for Barack Obama. Fine, no big surprise that a bunch of people in the entertainment industry are liberals. What bugs me is that the reason for voting for Obama is because he is black. Well now, there’s a very well thought out voting criteria. Here are some of the comments from the ceremony:

• “If we (considering the audience, I am assuming he means African Americans) all register and vote, we will have the first black president in the history of America” (Sean “Diddy” Combs).
  • I have no problem electing a black/hispanic/female/etc for President, but I do have a problem electing them only because they fall into one of those categories. Being black or white or purple does not make someone qualified to be President. My problem with Barack Obama has nothing to do with his skin color and everything to do with the evil in his heart (see Born Alive Infant Protection Act)
• “Obama or Die”! (sounds like a threat).
• “Michelle would make the best first lady … she’s so graceful” (be careful of pretty packages, Michelle’s views on Infanticide are just as frightening as her husband’s)

All I’m saying is that voting for or against a candidate because of their skin color is insane. How about honestly looking at some issues people? How about thinking a little bit? And before somebody slams me, I am just as irritated at conservatives who just wait to see what name the GOP has on the ballot in November and blindly vote for that person without having a clue what the GOP is doing to the conservative base.

Anybody have an encouraging, heart-warming news story to pass along? I’m feeling a bit discouraged.

OneMom