Mewsings from Lowecat (aka Indianacat)

My rants, ravings, and overall 'mewsings' on life, the universe, and everything.

Thursday, July 05, 2012

Happy Brithday, America!



























Our nation turned 235 years old today; makin' it a relatively young country compared to other nations of the world.  Fact of the matter is, the United States is still an infant when compared to the nations of the 'Old World'.                                                                                                              




Actually, the United States of America is older than 235 years, dependin' on when you start countin'.  It could be as old as the 1600's when the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.  'Course, then, the nation was still part of the British Empire. 


If all y'all remember anything about history, then you'll remember that up to the mid 1700's, our nation was ruled by King George who was NOT a benevolent ruler to the Colonies.  There were taxes for everything, or so it seemed, yet the Colonies didn't have the right of representation in the kingdom.  That's what really rankled with the colonies.  


So, the colonists did what people who are oppressed do.  They met and planned to make changes in the status quo.  They wrote a document outlinin' to the world why they wanted to separate from the mother country.  The document became known as the 'Declaration of Independence.'  All the representatives of the Colonies signed it.  



That document was the start of America's claim for independence.   The Revolutionary War eventually ended with the Colonies winnin' their freedom from the British Empire.  In over 200 years, there have been many challenges to the rights we all hold dear.  The right to freedom of speech, assembly, to bear arms, religion.  So many people today THINK they know what the founding fathers meant.   They are so wrong. 


The founding fathers wanted all citizens to have the freedom to say what they think, whether critical of the government or not; they wanted everyone to have the right to worship their own way as opposed to having a sanctioned church as in the Church of England; they wanted us to have the right to take up arms to protect our property and our lives.  In 200 plus years, those ideals have been twisted to support all manner of thoughts and ideals. 



Now we have overzealous individuals who bring lawsuits against prayer in schools, the display of the 10 Commandments on courthouse lawns, and if criminals don't get certain benefits.  Is this what the Colonists fought and died for?