With tomorrow being the 244th birthday of the United States of America, I would like to share the letter that John Adams wrote to Abigail Adams almost a quarter millennium ago…Â Â
“Time has been given for the whole People, maturely to consider the great Question of Independence and to ripen their judgments, dissipate their Fears, and allure their Hopes, by discussing it in News Papers and Pamphletts, by debating it, in Assemblies, Conventions, Committees of Safety and Inspection, in Town and County Meetings, as well as in private Conversations, so that the whole People in every Colony of the 13, have now adopted it, as their own Act. — This will cement the Union, and avoid those Heats and perhaps Convulsions which might have been occasioned, by such a Declaration Six Months ago.
But the Day is past. The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, 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 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.”
In the tumultuous time that we happen to be living in let’s remember and celebrate those who paved the way and gave birth to this great nation…Â
Like John Adams suggested, it will cost us “toil and blood and treasure” to uphold and maintain the Declaration of Independence and I know I am grateful for all who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice their time, energy, effort and lives to maintain the principles of democracy that allow us to constantly challenge the status quo and strive to achieve the American dream of liberty and justice for all…
Our country is not perfect but I do believe we are ever evolving with the intentions of progressing forward… Yes, there is gloom in today’s world just as there was in 1776, but there are also “rays of ravishing light and glory.”Â
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum or what subjective thoughts you currently have about our country and it’s fractioned leadership, let freedom fucking ring this weekend…Â
We’ve worked hard for it.Â
-EB
P.S. Have you hopped on a Team GoHard Foot Reflexology Board yet?
