The Promise of the Promised Land

Good Morning Gentle Readers,

Not sure exactly how that worked out, but our Fourth of July celebration isn't happening until July 5th this year. Just twenty some-odd people from the other side of the family, a pale shadow of its former self, but still a plain illustration of why we abandoned the long running annual 4th of July Bash. Some people thought it was because Jim died, but that wasn't it. It was just too much work.

This day we celebrate the Promise of the Promised Land. Or rather, the promise of some mostly reviled dead white guys who put their John Hancock (pun intended) on a piece of paper that essentially was an execution warrant (see: William Wallace).

The promise comes up a little tarnished now and again, but it's something we can point to when we tell the nice officer that he can't look in the trunk. He'll look anyway, and the courts will often allow it, but at least the specific intent of the founders is on record. Therein lies the difference between America and most everyone else.

Both Thomas Jefferson and Alexis de Tocqueville warned that it wouldn't last. And to some extent they were right and to some extent they were wrong. But the real legacy of America's Promise is the proclaimed ideal that it is our essential God-given biological nature that entitles us to live as free individuals.

We all get a chance, everybody gets to dance. What you make of that is up to you.

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Random Thoughts:

The Annual Fourth of July Bash had a good run though, and sometimes the turnout was amazing. Had a few minor celebrities along the way as well. Way back in the day, at the Little Blue House by the Lake, we'd dig a pit for the annual bonfire. Got popped once. The Boys in Red rolled up and told us to come get a permit (on the spot) and they'd let it go by. Shoulda seen the girls scramble down to the firehouse. Nothin' but cute little backsides and elbows. Lordy.

The tree of liberty, from time to time, must be replenished with the blood of patriots.—Thomas Jefferson

I'm putting up the Rattlesnake flag. Don't know that I've got the cojones those guys from Culpeper did, but it makes me feel like maybe I do. Looks like this.

Can't see the video? Look right here.

We 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.

As Always,

The Wine Commonsewer

Comments

[Lone Chatelaine]

Good stuff :)

Saturday is a great day for a party. It's a three day weekend after all. Make it last.

[TWC]

Thank you Ma'am. Warmest to you and yours on this High Holy Day of the American Dream.

[CUH]

A lot of work for you guys, definitely, but the memories are fond and enduring. Of course if memory fades so completely as to cause you to forget how hard it all was and make you long for the fun parts, and actually let yourself put it on again some day, well, count me in.

Happy 4th to you and yours, Mike. Miss ya madly.

[Rich D]

Thanks so much for the positive feedback on America!

We went to visit DC on Tuesday; it's just magnificent to see it up close. The marble of the Capitol has a texture that's hard to describe or photograph. I learned that the Washington Monument was halted at about a third complete when the money ran out and it took 25 years to find enough donors to restart it; the marble is different on the top two thirds because of the delay.

Wonderfully, the Federal Government did not have the money to finish it. I just find that thrilling that or government started out like that, frugal and unwilling to sock it to the taxpayers.

Enjoy the Fourth! It's an awesome day.

[Isaac]

Hey, Mike,

All the best to you and yours this grand day.

[Col. Hogan]

You guys have a wonderful time this evening. Play the Sousa loud enough that I can hear it!

[RM in MA]

Happy 4th to you, Lisa and children. Hope all is well out there in the land of fruit and nuts

[TWC]

Chris, you are a charmer. Thanks for all the kind wishes and good memories. From time to time we reconsider but sometimes you just can't ever go home again.

[Amphetamine Annie]

Good times. Things are different now. Happy 4th.

[Stephen]

Hey Dude,

Nice post.

Seems once a year or so, I get up the energy to send in a bit of fan mail. You deserve more, I hope this serves.

Spent the early morning with my oldest two, and then the bulk of the day with my house blond (Catherine 7) on a road trip to the south bay (We live in Sonoma County). Then dinner with the fam, a bit of Fireworks, and a dvd. Finally I cap the day, after the rest are in bed, polishing off the bottle of Syrah that a few buddies and I had made and that my better half and I had popped open with dinner. So glass of wine in hand, I sit down to read, and see your missive; it made me feel good. One finds it nice to know that Kindred Spirits are out there.

Anyhow, thanks for taking the time to share, and please know that it is appreciated.

All the best,

-- Stephen

[Kosmik Kid]

Our party was truly a blast, in spite of torrential rain that just had to happen right after I fired up 4 grills.

The Culpeper flag flew through the rain and the fireworks and is still in fine shape. I meant to put up the yellow Gadsden flag -- love the colors -- but never got around to it. And I never had a chance to shoot any film. Maybe next year.

I can't imagine ever throwing a bash the size of some of your parties. Ours took a solid week of cleaning, shopping, preparing and then cooking the food. I am exhausted.

Hope you and yours have a great time today.

[Dan G]

We all get a chance, everybody gets to dance. What you make of that is up to you.

I like that. Sounds like one I'm familiar with.....

"Fate is what you are given and Destiny is what you do with it"

Happy 4th
Dan

[TWC]

Stephen, thanks. I appreciate the kind words.

Kos, thanks, glad your party rocked. Yes, it is a lot of work.

Dan, very cool, thanks.