Fourth of July 2008 is just a few hours away. What an irony I find in it this year as we Americans get ready to celebrate our national day of Independence. How independent are we? How do we measure our independence in 2008? Certainly we are not as independent as we were 125 years ago. That would put us back to July 4, 1883. What is so special about 1883? Well, for one thing, we were not dependent upon foreign oil in 1883. We still have our basic freedoms in 2008 of speech, the press, religion and the rest, but economically the United States is no longer independent. In fact, we are being held hostage. Oh, I do not mean we are tied up and blind folded and sitting on the floor of some house in the middle of nowhere, although that may be a fitting description of our leadership in this country on July 3rd. What I mean is that economically were are being held hostage in our dependency on foreign oil, foreign manufacturing and now foreign governments decisions. King George III, of England, must be laughing in his grave as he watches his former 13 colonies, now 50 states, deal with our own ineffectual George W. and the issues of economic independence. Stamp Act! Hell, this makes the Stamp Act look like child's play. What we have today is an Energy Act placed upon us with no representation and our leadership will not raise a finger. The Founding Fathers that risked their lives and their possessions for our Independence can not be looking down on us with much pride in 2008. Is this what they risked their lives for and fought our war of independence?
Since we are back to faith and faith based stuff, I have decided to start my celebration of Independence Day 2008, at sundown tonight. In my religion, we start all our holidays and even the sabbath at sundown the night before the first full day. This religion, Judaism, that I was born into, is an old religion dating back over 5,000 years and started well before cell phones or Rolex watches. So, I am going to post a painting, Fourth of July, from The Envelope Collection that I am proud to say now hangs in Philadelphia, the place where it all began. I would like to wish all my readers and my friends a happy and safe Fourth of July 2008. Stay tuned.
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2 comments:
And a Happy 4th to you, too. Great painting, Fred. I really do love your work. Sholom.
Thanks Lou. And a happy and safe 4th to you and yours. Do you think anyone will pick up on King George III and Prez. George IV (W)? These two guys have got to be related. How else can we explain the similarities down to the point of their abject indifference. By George, I think we have brought some needed insight to this discussion of what is leadership in 2008. For extra credit: Contrast and compare the leadership in the United States in 2008 with the leadership exhibited by the English King George III over the 13 colonies in the 1770's. You may use facts, figures and illustration to make your points. Politicians give yourselves a minus 50 points at the outset. Take as much time as you wish to complete your answer. (Our politicians do.)
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