Last night I slept with the windows open, listening to the katydids sing, enjoying the cool and quiet of the evening. After too long an absence, I\u2019m back at Potlatch in the north Georgia mountains where time moves slowly, a place well suited for contemplating the crises faced by our nation and the larger world today.<\/p>\n
Many of my middle age years, I spent out of the country during the 4th of July holiday. Looking back, I am struck by how serious those in other countries took our independence day. They always took notice and were quick to organize parties for us, as if our independence was their\u2019s as well. At the time, I must confess, I found their enthusiasm pleasant but somewhat over the top. For me, the 4th of July was just another holiday given over to grilling hotdogs and drinking beer. People in Central America saw it differently.<\/p>\n
Belatedly, I recognize that they appreciated freedom and security in a way I did not. As an American, these qualities were a given, they were always there and seemed as immutable as the sun coming up each morning. For them these qualities were often an aspiration or something very fragile, if they were fortunate enough to enjoy them. They looked up to us.
\nToday, the opening lines of our Declaration of Independence mean more than ever for us and so many around the world who suffer injustice.<\/p>\n
\u2018We 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
On this day, let us not take our gifts as Americans for granted. We need to speak up and keep the Republic which our Founders gave us, for ourselves and those elsewhere who see the United States as a \u201ccity upon the hill.\u201d **<\/p>\n
Happy 4th of July!<\/p>\n
*Benjamin Franklin, September 17, 1787, Constitutional Convention<\/p>\n
**John Winthrop, 1630<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Last night I slept with the windows open, listening to the katydids sing, enjoying the cool and quiet of the evening. After too long an absence, I\u2019m back at Potlatch in the north Georgia mountains where time moves slowly, a place well suited for contemplating the crises faced by our nation and the larger world…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-by-robert-fischer"],"yoast_head":"\n