July 4, 1776: Independence Hall

Today is a day of Thanksgiving, but not the turkey kind of Thanksgiving. July 4, 1776 is not just an important day for us Americans in the United States, for it is an important day for all those people who lead a revolution in their own countries in the years following the American Revolution. We rose up and revolted against an English King that represented the conservative ideology of his day. Kings, with the approval of the church, ruled by what was referred to as "the divine right of kings." The radical or liberal view of that time was that God gave man certain inalienable rights, that among these were "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." We Americans are only a few short years down the road of history since our day of independence. What is 232 years when compared to the thousands of years that ancient Egypt had dynasties? The old historian Oswald Spengler believed that every civilization had a birth, a life and then a death. There are several historical examples he was able to choose from to make his point, but no where in history are those words carved in stone. As of late, we Americans have hit a few bumps in the road. Some might say there have been more than just a few. Let us remember to respect our constitution and each other. Have a happy and safe 4th of July.