Happy Birthday, America
Life. Liberty. The pursuit of happiness. Here’s to another 231 years of American independence. It didn’t happen by accident and it doesn’t perpetuate itself by auto-pilot. Mudville Gazette posts a poignant reminder that “Freedom isn’t Free” from a soldier’s father. My Independence Day column takes a look at the forgotten “A” word lost in the immigration debate: Assimilation. Here’s the intro:
Amnesty is dead. Now, let’s talk about the other “A” word. It’s the word and the concept completely abandoned during the immigration debate: assimilation.
Over the last year, hundreds of thousands of illegal-alien demonstrators took to the streets lobbying for amnesty. Marchers waved “Amnestia Ahora!” placards in one hand, the flags of their native countries in the other. Open-borders strategists quickly replaced the foreign flags with Old Glory after militant activists caused a public backlash last year. National newspapers played dutiful propagandists and splashed patriotic photo-ops of the “undocumented” masses wrapped in red, white and blue to drum up sympathy.But now that they’ve lost their amnesty fight, will they still embrace American symbols and traditions? Or was it all for show? And what of all that talk of illegal aliens being willing to study citizenship and civics? And take English classes? Why must they be bribed with the promise of a temporary guest-worker visa and mass governmental pardon in order to adapt to our way of life? When did assimilation become the means and not an end in itself?
Val Prieto has a moving thank you note to America. Amen and dittos:
Thank you, America. For the opportunity – the privilege – of living in freedom. A freedom your sons and daughters have given their all for.
I promise, America, to support and stand by your ideals. This freedom you’ve given me affords me many things, but most important, to me, is the freedom to choose to be an American. A choice I make with much pride and humility and one that bestows me the great honor of being among the ranks of those Americans that came before me, stand alongside me and will bless this country long after I am gone.
And I know it isn’t said nearly enough as it should be, but I love you, America. You are, truly, the greatest country in the history of the Earth.
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Missed you last night.
Michelle, it’s the 4th of July.
Take the day off – with pay.
GOD Bless you!
Happy Birthday!
Readers may assume I endorse Michelle’s comments.
Happy 4th of July everyone wherever you may be.
Thank you, Michelle! And a Happy Fourth of July to all!
“Nothing important happened today.” – from the diary of England’s King George III, July 4, 1776
“And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family..” – Leviticus 25:10 (KJV)
“Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” – Liberty Bell Inscription
Have a great Indepedence Day Michelle and everyone! God Bless the U.S.A.
JDPendry
Happy 231st birthday America and may God continue to bless this beloved free country! Our hearts are filled with pride, gratitude and confidence. Semper Fi -come home safe and soon.
America- a Nation ascendant among “countries”. America- the Land of Opportunity that upholds the economy of the entire World. America- a Nation dedicated to LIFE, LIBERTY, and THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. What is Saudi Arabia’s creed? Syria? Afghanistan?
USA, USA, USA…..
‘And I’ll proudly stand up next to you and defend her still today……’
God bless the U.S.A.
Below is a link to a video that I watch fom time to time, it always gives me focus to what is really important. The link is included in my “signature” on all of my email. Copied and pasted is my signature.
+++++++++++++++++++
From time to time, the tree of liberty must be refreshed with the blood of patriots and tyrants. Thomas Jefferson
Thank God for our heroes.
View a tribute to our fallen. We must never forget!
http://www.fdnylodd.com/images/stories/memorial/heroesweb.swf
I am my ancestors and they were me.
Best Wishes, Larry
May God always Bless America, the “shining city on the hill.” I thank God every day that I was privileged to be born here. God bless the men and women standing between us and chaos.
I pray that He will burden the hearts of our leaders with a mission to protect this unique country and her unmatched ideals and preserve her forever and ever.
Amen
Take the day off? Nuts to that! I’m working today, and I’m happy to do my part for free enterprise. I’m living, I’m free, and I’m happy………doesn’t get much better than that. God Bless the USA!!!
gippergirl
I am working too!
Just thought I would like to see someone take the day off so I sent Michelle home – I hope.
If it makes you feel better – take the rest of the day off with pay. Tell them I said it was okay!
…There ain’t no boubt I love this land. GOD Bless the USA
Hope everyone has a wonderful day.
An early American essayist, George_William_Curtis, said this:
That’s what makes immigrants like Val Prieto Americans. Happy birthday, America, to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and the people who cherish those principles.
Happy Birthday America. Happy Independence Day to the citizens of the United States of America.
The revolutionary war took 8 years to fight and win. The opposing army wore red, stood in long lines shoulder to shoulder marching thru the fields into battle. Eight years and we did not quit, some wanted to, but we kept on. We WON!
Freedom is not free.
Todays enemy doesn’t wear ‘red’ uniforms. They hide in skirts and homes and mosques. They don’t march thru fields, but hide bombs and AK’s on their bodies on trains, buses, and in planes or in malls. They train their children to hate and kill infidels ( thats us)from birth. They are not in the battle fields, but they are hiding everywhere.
What is the freedom for Iraqis worth? And the security and freedom for our future, what is it’s worth? Do we quit now? Throw away all? Everything that those who went before us sacrificed? Did they all give their all so we could wimp out?
Not a chance!
GOD BLESS THE USA
The goose bumps are back. God bless you all and God bless our sailors, soldiers,marines and airmen. And God bless our nation.
Happy Fourth of July Everyone
Let us celebrate this day in peace and rememberence. Let us not forget those that have paid the price for our freedeoms. Pray for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, local and federal people that fight for freedom on our own and distant shores.
We stand on the shoulders of giants. We praise those that have come before us and pray that we can live up to the challenge, keep the liberty torch alive and burning brightly.
We celebrate this day to show the world our pride in being a free nation, bought and paid for by the sweat of our brow, the blood of our brothers and strong belief that good conquers evil and sacrifice for the freedom of others is the ultimate good.
Yes, God Bless America tenfold. Share with your children our true heritage and blessings. Offer prayer and praise for our freedom and the great nation we have been blessed to express it in.
Have a great, safe and Happy Fourth of July
Michelle,
Excellent article on our founding fathers and being a nation of laws.
Happy 4th to all. God, please keep watching over us…
My complements to Mr. Prieto. If that was the overwhelming attitude amongst immigrants I’m sure the debate would be much different.
Happy 4th of July All! God Bless America, surely God is smiling down from Heaven. Stay Safe.
Val Prieto’s note certainly moved me, but emotion rises around the 4th for me more than any other holiday anyway, even more than Christmas of which I am a happily white-bearded participant.
Happy Birthday America!!!
There is no life like ours.
Happy Birthday America and God Bless You.
I read the complete article in the post and am overjoyed that the subject of assimilation has been brought the forefront of the immigration debate. Assimilation is paramount to the survival of the Republic of the United States. Yes the influx of Mexican people seems to be made up of hard workers, but the fact remains by gaining illegal entry to the country they are sidestepping the all important assimilation process. Learning and using the English language in public should be mandatory to qualify for citizenship. The millions of Spanish speaking illegals have no choice but to remain as a parallel society and are setting a precedent that will invite other nationalities to do the same. By granting ammnesty and so called ‘sanctuary cities’ we would have invited the segregation of millions of people. Sen. Kennedy compares efforts to solve this problem to Gestapo tactics and all but says it is immposible. I suspect that the main obstacle the Senator sees is the money it will cost. It will cost money and there will be no monetary gain for the investment. If the States can administer the Division of Motor Vehicles and Drivers Licenses with all its accuracy then we can regulate the illegals too. When is the last time you failed to pay a traffic citation or let your auto insurance lapse without having your driving privileges suspended? How many million drivers are there? How are the illegals who will be participating on July 17th in Wash. DC being contacted? Out from the Shadows! I think not. When you watched the first gathering of protestors across the nation on TV they were carrying Mexican flags. The next week they were all carrying American flags bar non. Someone is communicating with them I prefer it to be the American people. Thank You MM Happy Independence Day!
Happy 4th everyone! I listened to this song this morning for the first time in a while, and it’s still great. Written by a great American patriot who took some heat for it at the time, but it still stands out. So here’s my tribute to our troops, with a man who’s done alot to help them and their families. Charlie Daniels.
God Bless America, and those who keep her free.
Happy birthday America…..
Amen to that!
Nope! They showed their true colors and allegiance the first go round. From Mexican flags and AZTLAN posters to “Go back to Europe” banners and ANSWER signs. They found out though that marketing is powerful tool and doesn’t need be true to be effective. In subsequent marches The American flags were handed out by those that understand about marketing. I hope we Americans are not eat up with stupid.
To the country that treated me and my family so well.
To the country that continues to be the saving grace by giving generously.
To the country that is the beacon of hope for anyone who seeks to live a life of freedom.
To the country that defends others in thier time of need, domestically and abroad.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!
Happy 4th all!
Will America be remembered as an empire?
Thanks Michelle, and thanks to Val Prieto, true Americans.
May God the Father Almighty continue to bless our beloved Country.
To ackrite55: Yes, America will be remembered as an empire. “An empire of liberty,” in Thomas Jefferson’s words.
Long may our flag wave!
May the wings of liberty never lose a feather.
God bless America!
Michelle, I’m going to say something politically incorrect. I am a federalist leaning heavily anti-federalist. I am also very anti natural law. I do not believe in natural law. It is bogas like evolution, the big bang idea, and using science to understand man’s situation. I wish the Founders were baptized Christians. It would give them MORE fame…..
Nothing much to add but Happy Birthday to the greatest nation on the earth!
Great article Michelle. It scares me to wonder what our founding fathers would think of our current congress.
Happy Birthday and a safe and happy Independence Day to all my fellow Patriots!
The hosts of the marches had to take away their Mexican flags and give the Mexicans AMERICAN flags to carry. It was not because they got Americanized, they were forced to carry the Red White and Blue.
From a Hero, the entire statement.
Patrick Henry March 23, 1775 Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
Read it all.
Darn tootn’
Step 1 in keeping America free: “Turning America back into a Nation of Riflemen – one citizen at a time.”
I hope others are enjoying the History
Channel today.
They are rerunning the Revolution series,
A wonderful way for TV hold it’s high place in our lives.
Having to switch back and forth to Lou dobbs though, he has a townhall meeting
on illegals.
I’m pleasantly surprised the History Channel is running the Revolution this year, for the last couple of years they have been pushing the globalist agenda on the 4th of July, finally a great all day reminder of how are nation began. Happy 4th of July everyone and pray for our troops!
Happy 231st birthday America. I’m so proud to be an American citizen where I am free to discuss political points of view, worship God how I choose and peacably assemble to express my opinion. I would not want to live anywhere on Earth. God Bless our country and those who defend it.
You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true
‘neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there’s never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan – to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.”
-Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865.
“All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression.”
-Thomas Jefferson
“Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”
-Benjamin Franklin
Here is a song celebrating our country that was written by communists (Lewis Allan and Earl Robinson), yet President Reagan loved it so much he had Frank Sinatra sing it to visiting dignitaries.
What is America to me?
A place, a map, the flag I see
A single word, democracy?
What is America to me?
The house I live in,
A plot of earth, a street,
The grocer and the butcher,
The people that I meet.
The children in the playground,
The faces that I see,
All races and religions,
That’s America to me.
The place I work in,
The workers by my side,
The small towns and the cities
Where my people lived and died,
The howdy and the handshake
The air of feeling free,
The right to speak my mind out,
That’s America to me.
The things I see around me,
The big ones and the small,
The little corner newsstand
And the house a mile tall,
The wedding in the churchyard,
The laughter and the tears,
And the dream that has been growing
For the last 231 years.
The town I live in,
The street, the house, the room,
The pavement of the city
And a garden all in bloom,
The church, the school, the clubhouse,
The million lights I see,
But especially the people,
That’s America to me!
Happy 4th of July to all you fine people. May God forever bless this nation and the souls that keep it safe.
The United States is “the last best hope of man on earth.” The liberals whine that the rest of the world hates us. Perhaps we know something the rest of the world doesn’t know…yet.
I want to share with America two of my favorites: a quote and a soapbox:
1- The Quote:
“No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.”
General George S. Patton Jr.,
United States Army
November 11, 1885 — December 21, 1945
2 – The Soapbox:
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
05/29/06
I wanted to share on my favorite soapbox pieces with you on this Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for those who have served our country.
God Bless America,
Charlie Daniels
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
Have you ever spent the later afternoon watching the purple shadows deepen in the Arizona desert, or seen a herd of elk plow their way through waist deep snow on a cold Colorado dawn?
Did you ever watch the sun go down in Hawaii or see the stormy waves break over the rock bound coast of Maine, or have you ever seen an eagle fly up out of the mists of Alaska or a big October moon hanging full over the still Dakota badlands?
Have you ever tasted the gumbo in New Orleans, the barbecue in Carolina or the chicken wings in Buffalo? Have you ever had Brunswick stew in Macon or cornbread in Birmingham or brisket slow cooked over hill country mesquite wood?
Did you ever drink water from a gurgling branch in Utah or stand on the mountain above El Paso Del Norte and see the lights twinkling clear over into Mexico?
Did you ever jingle horses in the predawn stillness of a perfect Texas day and watch their shod hooves kicking up sparks on the volcanic rock or tended a trot line on a foggy Carolina morning, or heard the distant song of a lovesick whippoorwill in the pristine Tennessee late night?
Have you seen the faces on Mount Rushmore or stood at the Vietnam monument? Have you ever crossed the mighty Mississippi or been to the Daddy of ‘Em All in Cheyenne, Wyoming or seen the mighty Vols run out on the football field on a chilly autumn afternoon?
Did you ever see the Chicago skyline from Lakeshore Drive at night or the New England foliage in the fall or the summer beauty of the Shenandoah valley or Indiana covered with new snow?
Did you ever see a herd of wild horses running free across the empty spaces of Nevada or caught a walleyed pike out of a cold Wisconsin stream, or marveled at the tall ships docked in the harbor at Baltimore?
Did you ever see the early morning dew sparkling on the bluegrass or the wind stir the wheat fields on a hot Kansas afternoon or drove the lonely stretches of old Route 66?
Have you ever heard the church bells peal their call to worship on a early Sunday in some small town in the deep South, or passed through the redwood forests as the sun was going down?
Have you ever been to Boise or Baxley or Beaufort or Billings? Have you ever passed through Sanford or Suffolk or San Angelo? Have you seen the falls at Niagara, the ice palace in St. Paul or the gateway to the west?
This then is America, the land God blesses with everything and no Eiffel Tower, no Taj Mahal, no Alps, nor Andes, no native hut, nor royal palace can rival her awesome beauty, her diverse population, her monolithic majesty. America the free, America the mighty, America the beautiful.
God Bless America
Charlie Daniels
God Bless America….and God Bless you too Michelle…..
Just watched the O’Reilly show and the matchup with Geraldo….
BANG.BBBOOOOOOOMMMMMM……AND THEN SHE HIT HIM WITH A RIGHT UPPERCUT…RIGHT IN THE JAW……
Ow….poor Geraldo…completely overmatched……
I’ve never seen Michelle so “intense” on TV…..
Love it….MORE MORE MORE!!!!
Can`t be beat.
Only when the Buckeyes run on the field through the Tunnel of Pride against M*chigan.
Here’s what makes America great: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Religion, Freedom from illegal searches and seizures. Let’s try to keep it that way. Let’s not have the Justice Dept. illegally wiretap citizens’ phones, let’s not have United States Attorneys fired for refusing to bring meritless cases for political reasons, and let’s make sure Americans are always free to burn an American flag in protest.
Our nation is too great to infringe on any of these rights.
HalleluJah. Thank you Jesus for this nation in which I may serve you without government interferance.
Yeah..that freedom to burn the American flag is really important…how ’bout if we just kick their ass when they burn the flag in front of us? and leave out the government…is that ok for you bed wetters?…
Happy Birthday to the Greatest Country in the History of the world.
Happy Birthday America !!
jferg49, I knew my statement about flag burning would provoke someone on this site. Is that how we solve problems in this country, violent attacks on dissenters?
Does anyone think that Federal prosecutors ought to be fired for insisting on brining meritless cases for political reasons? How about state prosecutors too?
Fitzgerald
Nifong
Earle
I’m sure there are many more.
Oh, don’t burn an American Flag anywhere near me if you don’t want to hear me excercise my free speech rights on you, which I’m sure you don’t.
Are we within our rights to burn a Koran as resistance to Sharia law’s opression of millions around the world?
How about burn a burka for women’s rights? Can we burn copies of Farenhiet 911 and Sicko in protest of stupid socialist propaganda?
Of course not. That would make us “insensitive”. But go ahead and burn that Old Glory, the symbol of freedom. That’s just fine. What idiocy we have today.
Brian, I agree with you. We, as Americans, can burn the flag, the Bible, the Koran, a burka, a bra, anything. What a country!
No you don’t agree with me, maybe I didn’t make myself clear enough. Burning things is what savage Islamist nutcases do to protest everything they hate.
I would hope that Americans can protest and voice their opinions without doing violence to the symbols of the political entity which ensures they have the right to say what they want.
If you insist that burning things in the street is what is protected “speech”, then you are wrong in my opinion. You can be against things and say so loudly and proudly, but burning the flag means you hate what it stands for and to me is not speech, but an act of violence against the whole country ” for which it stands”.
You may disagree, and that is what America is all about. In the course of you expressing your views, I would suggest for your own sake, that you do not act like Islamic Rage Boy.