Revive a Founding Father’s Ideals
Louis R. Petolicchio
Daily Local News
July 2 , 2010
With Independence Day quickly approaching it seemed appropriate to remind liberty-loving Americans of the sentiments expressed by John Adams when the Continental Congress voted to sever relations with Great Britain.
In a letter to Abigail Adams dated July 3, 1776, he said: “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. 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 with triumph in that day’s transaction, even although we should rue it, which I trust in God we shall not.”
How often have contemporary Americans forgotten to celebrate Independence Day with both the joyful enthusiasm and sober mediation advocated by John Adams? Picnics, beer and barbecues… though they have a place in the celebration… should not overshadow some of the more reflective aspects of the Fourth of July.
Adams included “solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty” in the celebration process, but how often have we stopped to reflect on the gift of our God-given liberties? Adams thought independence should be celebrated with boisterous expressions of patriotism including “pomp and parade,” but how often have some us shied away from such actions for fear of offending someone who might look with disdain on our pride in America?
This Fourth of July, would it not be a good idea to revive some of those means of celebration suggested by one of America’s greatest Founding Fathers? Would not a public reading of the Declaration of Independence be in order so that children can be taught what some of those ideals were that drove 13 colonies to turn their back on the Old World and begin building a new one? Would not a time of prayer, a time of reflection be in order so that we will remember that it is from God, and not government, that our fundamental rights emanate from? And would it not be good to celebrate Independence Day with the same enthusiasm that it was embraced by Adams and Washington and Franklin more than 230 years ago?
May we all have a joyous Fourth of July, and may God save these United States.