I had a listener call the other day who told me that it may not be such a big deal, but that he is irritated by how it seems that everyone refers to the upcoming holiday as The 4th of July.  I thought about it for a while afterwards, and have to agree with him.  We don't call Christmas December 25th, or Valentine's Day February 14th.  How did it come that one of the most important holidays for our country became known as a date?  So I am going to make a conscious effort from now on to refer to it by the name we should all use -- Independence Day.

July 2, 1776, our forefathers voted for independence from Great Britian.  On July 3, John Adams wrote this to his wife Abigail:

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history 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 shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."

Okay, Adams was off by two days but what incredible bravery and foresight these men had.  On July 4th, 1776, the wording for The Declaration of Independence was approved and the document was sent to a printer.  Thomas Jefferson's preamble is still one of the most beautifully powerful statements about human rights:

"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.  That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

Wise words. 

I hope you and your family and friends have a wonderful Independence Day Weekend!!