1776: A letter from husband to wife
On this day 233 years ago, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail on the declaration of independence of the United States of America:
I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. — I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. — Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.
Read the entire exchange here.
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- This July 4th: Are You an Individualist or an Internationalist? « I Took The Red Pill (and escaped the Matrix)
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- Celebrate Independence Day By Rallying Your Family, Friends and Community At An Ice Tea Party! « Pronk Palisades
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- Happy Fourth Of July America …To Us All :: Chicago Ray’s rants & views on news
- “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival.” « The TrogloPundit
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- Joe Biden vs. John Hancock and Theodore Roosevelt on True American Patriotism « Frugal Café Blog Zone
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The greatness of our founders can not be overestimated.
The divine inspiration behind the Declaration I know of nowhere so evident outside of scripture.
Instead of John Adams, we now have Barack Obama and Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi…boy, this is going to be a depressing holiday.
What a gift they left to us.
(We should hang our heads in shame.)
I’d love to know what Adams would say about our current demander in chief.
I wonder more often now, if we are even worthy of the founders sacrifice and dedication. I pray daily we are.
Too many people losing faith or trust in God. End result? Look around! With all due consideration to the Conservative Atheists here, this Nation was nonetheless founded on Christian Principles and does require a moral people in order to be effective. (And not saying you are not moral either or you likely would not be a Conservative)
Guns? Why do people still “believe” that only the National Guard or other “Organized” Militia is referred to in the second amendment?
Happy Fourth of July and enjoy what few liberties you have left while you still can. It seems that the tree of Liberty may very well need to be watered in our lifetimes.
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Too bad the “democratic” / liberal / socialist / marxist / communist President Obama (PBUH) and his congressional / government minions don’t know anything (or care) about history.
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Our Founding Fathers studied what had worked well and what didn’t in governments in their time. Then they thought it out logically and set up the best government possible for us.
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When the Declaration of Independence was read they knew a long hard war was coming. They fought it bravely.
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Many other countries saw what the U.S.A. did and took similar actions to free their own countries. We were the beacon for the world for hundreds of years.
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Good thing we had George Washington leading instead of the Messiah. He wants to return us to being SUBJECTS–NOT CITIZENS–of the new U.S.S.A. government. We would still be loyal subjects of the Queen living in the Colonies–like Canada–the way he thinks.
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John Bibb
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How beautiful, to see the vision of the FOUNDING FATHERS… We have the longest surviving DEMOCRACY on the planet… Some may seek to destroy it, but they will fail… Enough PATRIOTS still remain to keep the REPUBLIC intact… Have a WONDERFUL 4th people, and reflect on the MAGNIFICENT GIFT we have been given…
Go to your PTA meetings and put together informative patriotism packages….Our teachers are too busy trying to have sex with your kids, it is up to you.
“Hang the traitor”
Marshall, I share those same feelings. It feels more and more as if we have, indeed, turned our backs on God, and that he has responded in kind.
Our nation is a mess. Every time I hear someone refer to us as the “greatest country on earth,” I cringe. If we are – and that is debatable – it is only because other nations have slid further, faster.
As everyone here knows, for example, Europe will be largely Muslim in about 15 years, and dominantly so in 20 to 25.
As a nation we have become whiny, self-centered, largely Godless, and pathetic.
Adams would be revulsed. He would not – COULD not – recognize this nation as the outcome of his labors and toil.
Thank God our country was blessed with such leaders as John (and Abigail) Adams and more recently, Ronald Reagan.
This weekend, let us all express our “Devotion to God Almighty” with prayer and “Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations” and TEA PARTIES!
It may be hard to celebrate in the future as suggested by Adams. Obama is going to try to take our guns away and will probably start taxing fireworks. Too many bonfires will cause more global warming and that will be taxed also.
JDinTX, personally, I intend to defy the Chicago Thug, Mr. Obama, as long as he is in power.
The faith that John Adams and the other Founding Fathers who pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor in future generations of Americans was not misplaced. Yes, we went through hard times and sometimes we’ve had our doubts, but in the end we’ve always risen to every challenge and prevailed. And the freedoms they secured for us unleashed creative powers whose accomplishments not even they could have foreseen.
Accordingly, here is some appropriate music for Independence Day. “The Union: a Paraphrase on National Themes” was written by our first great classical composer, New Orleans native Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829-1869). Gottschalk was our very own Chopin who dazzled concert audiences on three continents with his piano virtuosity until his untimely death from malaria while on a concert tour of Brazil. Here, this piece is passionately performed by American pianist Richard Alston.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lli2DL2oAPE
I understand that Michelle is a pianist of noteworthy talent and skill. She might want to add this to her repertoire.
Respectfully, I disagree.
We should hold our heads high. Our jaws should be set, and our stride firm and confident.
We have a job of work to do, just as did that “cluster of genius” that gave us our Founding. Just as have other generations of Americans, some of them brand new Americans.
IF…or when…the Collectivists pass new laws that attempt to strip us of liberty, we always have a choice. We may capitulate or resist. I choose resistance.
Adams was facing a fight with the most powerful hegemony in the world at the time. Maybe we are, too, in our own time. He and the others did not shrink, but actually ran to the battle. Americans since than have acted in similar fashion.
I hope to be, by my actions, worthy of their example.
And I hold my head high, as they would, I believe, want for their posterity to do.
That reminds me of the people that I saw in the Obamacare Kabuki Theater.
Every time I hear people talk about “Freedom” anymore I cringe. It seems to be the last thing most Americans want. What they do want is to turn our country into a giant assisted care nursing home with lots of govt. employees to look after their needs and a large screen TV in every room to watch the latest Hollywood garbage. We are well on way there and the Caretaker-in Chief is trying to complete the transition.
Amen.
On this fourth, we should not hold our heads in shame reflecting on the last six months, but rather hold our heads high and voices in unison celebrating the birth of a revolutionary form of government that founded the greatest nation on earth. Ours is a nation that has weathered many storms, both political and apolitical, and we will weather this storm as well as our brothers and sisters wake from their doldrums to discover the infallible truth our founding fathers fought and died to express, that freedom and liberty is at the heart of every man and women yearning to break free of tyranny.
So on this fourth, celebrate the men who showed us the way out of bondage so that we may do so once again.
Guess My plan for tomorrow will change. Instead of going to town I will have to follow the advice and go to the range.
I am going to town, Bear. I’m going to a Tea Party on the steps of my state’s capital.
No Tea Party here on this island MBuck, Expect though many will be out boating.
Michelle, thank you so much for posting this.
It’s a shame folks don’t read other things the man and his son said:
“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.” ~John Quincy Adams
“Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People in a greater Measure than they have it now, They may change their Rulers and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting Liberty. They will only exchange Tyrants and Tyrannies.” ~John Adams
“There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties… This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.” ~John Adams
The following was on a Tea Party sign recently and it really caught my eye.
I looked it up – by a Professor Alexander Tyler who wrote about the fall of the Athenian republic:
from bondage to spiritual faith,
from spiritual faith to great courage,
from courage to liberty,
from liberty to abundance,
from abundance to selfishness,
from selfishness to complacency,
from complacency to apathy,
from apathy to dependency,
from dependency back to bondage.
Our Founders knew well such tyrants would arise in our mist and threaten this Nobel Experiment.
So in this Declaration for which they spoke and pledged their very Lives and Sacred Honor (quaint ideas of a distant past?) they left us this my fellow patriots:
These Great “Dead White European Males of the Racist Patriarchy” did indeed give us a Republic–it is up to us to keep it.
“And do not forget the Ladies” – Abigail Adams
In the doledrums of summer it might be a good time to read up on the Revolutionary Period–and Don’t Forget the Ladies.
In the wonderful musical “1776″, the New York delegate always responds “New York abstains, courteously.” whenever a vote for independence comes up. When finally he is asked why New York always abstains, he responsds that the New York Congress is a chaotic mess and have no idea what they’re doing. 233 years later, nothing has changed.
More Abigail Adams
Sort of a Stay at Home 18th century feminist with those qualities missing from too many 21st century feminists: class, brains and a sense of integrity.
But what do I know–I am just an off-white partial European Male of the racist patriarchy bitterly clinging to God and Guns.
Now try saying THAT four times fast
Enjoy the Fourth and shoot an Englishmen if you have a chance.
I highly recommend David McCullough’s book, “John Adams.” The character, intelligence, and grace of those men and women tower over those who claim to be our leaders of today. May God give us another John Adams soon!
Our country would never vote for him, because he wouldn’t be a Republican or Democrat.
After electing a womanizer who rented Lincoln bedroom for 10K a night, after electing and re-electing an AWOL, spoilt,rich, saudi-puppet, after electing Mobarak “God D**n America” Obama, Barry “Driver’s licences for illegals” Obama and after rejecting a patriot like om Tancredo, what do Americans expect?
Oh… as if that was not enough, Americans ran with the womanizer’s wife, who does not mind a cheating-husband, if it gets her a public office.
Contemporaneously, it was a wonderful thought and we should be grateful that we are, as a nation, continuing to be perfected.
“Perfected”? By what measure?
Anybody notice that fireworks have gone up about 150% from last year due to Demorat spending policies?
Well, it will be here in my neck of the woods, sir.
We are…the dross is being discarded as the gold is purified. Sheep and goats separated daily.
God bless those who hold true to the principles upon which our nation was founded.
I’ll never understand why conservatives allowed themselves to be so blinded.
Tom Tancredo was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
The enemy chose our choice for us, and he was pitiful from day one.
Enter Dr. Death, BHO.
And the number of schoolchildren in America who read that last year….
The Founding Fathers were astonishing.
don’t forget Duncan Hunter.
I understand your sentiment. I am not referring to individuals who continue to hold to the Constitution and all its values. They could look the Founders in the eye and not feel ashamed. I am referring to the “collective” Americans of today and the past decades, if I can use that horrible word “collective”. As a “collective” society we have grossly distorted the principles on which this country was founded. I should have made that more clear.
Arizona:
I appreciate your mention of Abigail…and by implication all the Abibails of our history.
They, perhaps most of all, had to sacrifice against their nature in allowing, or even encouraging, their men to make the fight, and in so doing risk home, security, and children in the cause of liberty.
Not all women have done that, and have instead held their men at home, or cursed them as they crossed the threshold. Imagine that.
Other women in our history were possessed more of the impulse to fight than were their men.
I bless the woman who can raise sons to be men. They are a rarity now.
We need to get back to what our Founding Fathers believed. I urge all of you who haven’t read “Common Sense,” by Thomas Paine, to do so. And if you have, re-read it. Talk about vision!!!
By our Constitution having been modified with Amendments XI through XXVII.
With each Amendment we have attempted to make ourselves better. To become a more ‘perfect’ Union. Whether you may like, or not like, an individual Amendment. Do you agree?
John Adams was referring to July 2nd, the day the proposal was passed. Adams was a man who was convinced, throughout his later years, that he would be forgotten in our history. I certainly hope that future generations remember him; not only for his support for independence but also for his work, in Europe, raising money. Also, he was our first ambassador to England; a job that had to be scary at best. He did have a successful presidency, in preventing war with France, compared with Jefferson who committed “treason” for encouraging the French to capture our ships, in his love for the French Revolution and his hatred for England. All in all, Adams was an extraordinary man. I hope we have more “fourths” in the future, but I am apprehensive that that may change. Many people know the 4th for the holiday and not for the history. The founding fathers have been unjustly condemned over the years, to fit the far left agenda. Declaration of the rights of man, Declaration of Independence, the Constitution are unknown to many. Spend a little time, this weekend, and read some of these documents. Or, watch a dvd on the Revolution or the Founding Fathers. Years ago, as a history lover, I was devoted to the Civil War, and WW2. One day I realized I didn’t know a thing about the Revolution, the colonies, or really anything about the late 1700s. My wife and I became devoted to anything of the 1700s. What you assume and learn in school, isn’t what you can learn by walking the footsteps, being in the places, and reading all about it. Happy 4th of July. May we have many more!
If the government actually had the audacity to abide by our Constitution I may believe you there but …
If the government actually had the
audacityintegrity to abide by our Constitution I may believe you there but …Merely a suggestion…
A dog stealing your ham off the table is audacious…
That everyman do his Duty to His God, His Country and His Family.Yes Bhishma we are going through a hard period-these too Are Times That Try Men’s Souls. And as our Fathers, Brothers, Sons at Valley Forge, Fredrickberg, The Battle of Belleau Wood and those living nightmares in the Pacific, Europe, Korea, Viet Nam, Iraq and Afghanistan we say: Here I stand-Come and Get Me.
Depression, Despair and Defeatism are daily enemies and allies of the Tyrant. We all go through it. And as with our Fathers, Brothers, Sons we shake it off as best we can, put one foot in front of the other, fix bayonets (old infantry term) and retake the field. To misquote 007-Shaken, not defeated.
Hang tough Bhishma ’cause we ain’t dead yet-
Let the other SOB die for his country.
audacious-Latin for Doberman?
The British are planning a Fourth of July-style holiday (British Day or UK Day). I just assumed they already had this — better late than never.
All nice, warm and fuzzy!
With Mobarak Hussein covering it’s back, Doughie will gladly carve out America’s liver and Nihad will serve it to HAMAS in a Kaffur-Feed fest. Ofcourse, ACLU will be happy to clean after….. if you know what the real-situation is like, on the ground.
And, have not even mentioned Sotomayor shoving Illegals down American courts!
Here ya go, Michelle ……………………..
from 1776
Per ImdB, it’ll be on tomorrow night @ 10:15 pm ……………..
Semper Fi’
DM
Agreed and understood but it was a very poor play of words about a very poor book written by some guy … The Audacity of Hope …
Thanks though as I am sure many here did not get it or understand the subtle differences and nuances of my language.
Q: Do you know what time it is?
A: Yes I do … and leave without saying anything further. If I answered the question you asked, what have I done wrong?
My Gramma was an English Teacher, my Mother a Reporter back when it was news and a post-graduate writing professor, Philosophy Professor and my Grandfather was a historian of some note … all of them were anal retentive about the English language and the power of words … and now after such a lengthy and irrelevant discourse about me, back to your regularly scheduled comments.
“I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means” contrast that to Saul Alinsky The ends justify the means. Here is a great article to forwad to any moonbat family and friends.
http://www.tysknews.com/Articles/dnc_corruption.htm
“Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence:
Five were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes burned to the ground. Two lost sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, and two more had sons captured. Nine fought and died in the Revolutionary War.”
30 of 56 paid dearly,
As a very young infantry officer in Viet Nam I did learn one thing quite well: the harder you fight the better chance you have of not dying; it is the overly cautious and emotionally defeated you put in front–you can not depend on them defending your butt or flank. It is a lesson I have carried through out my life.
Yes I too hate and fear Hussein Obama and his thugs-his friendship with Hamas and such, his association with ACORN, ACLU and the Black Panther Party. Judge Sotomayor is a double embarrassment to me. The “wise Latina” is but one more Leftist s!ut.
All nice, warm and fuzzy!? You just might be surprised. Even better our fascist enemies just might be surprised.
Hang tough Bhishma-we did not bow nor surrender to Mad George and I won’t bow nor surrender to Blue Lips. All nice, warm and fuzzy!?
Why not
Approximate Effective Range of the 7.62 NATO (.308 WIN) 400m (1312 ft). The 5.56 is less but the rifle looks so cool I just had to have it.
Enjoy the Fourth, buonas noches, stay free.
I couldn’t agree more with this recommendation. I read this book every night until I literally fell asleep in it. Makes you feel like you’re right there in the midst of the Revolution.
I highly recommend:
And:
John Adams was from Massachusetts. What was the mindset in Massachusetts less than four months before they signed the Declaration of Independence?
The answer will surprise those who do not believe that we were a Christian Nation at the time of our country’s founding on July 4, 1776.
On July 3rd, 2009 at 2:32 pm, cngerms said:
I know 13 such men. They are not presently in politics, but they are every bit the men that our founders were.
Keep in mind that a mere 56 men signed tthe Declaration of Independence.
We don’t need millions. We just need a few good men.
Do you want to be part of the solution?
On July 3rd, 2009 at 11:45 am, ErinF said:
The man who would later become the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court wrote to the President of the Constitutional Convention, George Washington, the following:
Before the Constitution the closest reference we have to Natural Born Citizen is from the legal treatise “the Law of Nations,” written by Emerich de Vattel in 1758. In book one, chapter 19, § 212, you will find:
And in § 215:
Obama’s own website admitted that he was governed by British law at birth, due to the British citizenship of his father:
How can a Natural Born Citizen of the United States be “governed” – at birth – by the law of another country?
They can’t. A Natural Born Citizen of the United States is someone who, since birth, has never been governed by, or a citizen of, any other country.
Obama is not a Natural Born Citizen of the United States, and he is not eligible to serve as President and Commander in Chief of our Armed Forces.
He is a usurper.
John Adams would not stand for having a usurper assume the Presidency. And neither should we.
Jeff Schrembs, American Citizen, said: THANK YOU Michelle for sharing this wonderful, and historical, article (i.e. the 1776 letter from Husband to Wife).
Our Founding Fathers, though without fault and sin, strived to make this Country one of freedom and of adherence to God.
Sadly, our (public and many private) school systems just protray our Founders as “slave owning, adultery, old white men” as if their lives were not of accomplishment – sacrifice – bravery – etc.
Additionally, their textbooks CELEBRATE those of “color” who experimented with a peanut (as an example) giving that person 3-10 pages in History books while George Washington gets 1 page (and most of it slanderous and factually incorrect).
Far too often White Males, specifically, are presented as “vanilla” or “without merit” and their accomplishments, and dreams, brushed aside.
God doesn’t make mistakes and he has blessed this Country for as long as this Country has adhered to God’s Laws. If God made you white…celebrate it. If God made you black…celebrate it.
The point is that I believe that there should be MORE articles, blogs, books, etc. sheding light on our History for it is one of great trials…and great jubliation.
May everyone have a wonderful 4th of July celebrating with family knowing that millions of our “fellow man” have long left this Earth, some while fighting for our Country, leaving behind a Country where freedom reigns.
Take care and God bless.
Jeff Schrembs
I live in the Netherlands, where John Adams was our first Ambassador. He also secured the first loan to the USA by a foreign country here. Jefferson once complained that the interest rate was too high. Proof that some things never change.
Happy 4th of July everyone and remember,
233 years ago, a group of Americans came together and decided that they didn’t want to be like Europe.
I’m going to step out on to my 35 sq. foot patio (huge by Euro standards) and light up the bag of Kingsford I’ve been saving for a month (since I visited the nicest destination in Europe – an open US Military installation) and I’m going to grill up some 1.5 inch think, honest to goodness American Cheeseburgers. (The Euros can’t even get a cheeseburger right – they ad a filler of some type – nasty).
As an affront to our Islamist enemies, I shall put bacon on mine. Mmmmmmmmmm bacon!
God bless America.
Some number of years ago, I lived in England. I did the same thing on the fourth and they didn’t take kindly to it. Apparently the smoke from my cooking wafted into every open window. The next day their flats still smelled like burgers cooking.
Yep. It happens here too. Trust me, most of the people here are so self centered, I’ve just given up on being polite about some things..
Excellent recap of this special day! More power to liberty and justice all over the world.
Finally, Happy July 4th to all patriotic Americans!
Mmmmm. Burgers. I’m sure they were offended by having to inhale the “contaminated” air. All that smoke and grease can’t be good for mother earth.