I trust this finds your good self well.
I would like to offer you, if I may clutter your day, my perspectives on the 245th year of our Independence as the USA.
I welcome your responses. Please share freely as you see fit. I have included in my message descriptions of Norman Rockville’s paintings from 1943 representing the Four Freedoms from President Roosevelt’s State of the Union in Jan, 1941, his portrayal of the harrowing first day of school of Ms. Ruby Bridges, and a newer version of the Four Freedoms created by Artists Hank Willis Thomas and Emily Shur of For Freedoms – an artist-led platform 75 years after the original Four Freedoms were painted and published.
It is best for us to take this opportunity to proclaim a prayer of gratitude for being an integral, indivisible part of this great nation that is our United States of America. We all have so much to be thankful for, and as we celebrate this 4th of July may we never take our fervently cherished and fondly treasured Four Freedoms that you enjoy in this land for granted ever. May we by God’s grace have a blessed Independence Day this day and in days to follow. Let us strive to build a more perfect Union.
Tomorrow July 04, 2021is the 245th year of our Independence as Americans, and the day when the greatest threat to the Union was annihilated in 1863, when a thoroughly defeated Confederate Army withdrew from the Gettysburg Battlefield.
Today July 3,in 1863 Battle of Gettysburg ends in a Victory for the UNION
Velandy Manohar, MD.,
velandymanoharmd.com my website has several related posts
Distinguished Life Fellow, Am. Psychiatric Association {APA}
Chair, Community Engagement and Outreach Standing committee, Community Advisory Council, Office of Health strategy- CT.
Founding member- CT. Multi-Cultural Health Partnership- Recipient Nancy Berger Member Award
Charter member- Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American Heritage and Culture
Past President Indian American Psychiatric Association and Asian American Caucus of APA
"In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute."
—Thurgood Marshall
The Pledge of Allegiance (ushistory.org)
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
I.
Battle of Gettysburg Ends - HISTORY July 3, 1863
1863 July 03, Battle of Gettysburg ends
“…Both armies, exhausted, held their positions until the night of July 4, when Lee withdrew. The Army of the Potomac was too weak to pursue the Confederates, and Lee led his army out of the North, never to invade it again. The Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point in the Civil War, costing the Union 23,000 killed, wounded, or missing in action. The Confederates suffered some 25,000 casualties. On November 19, 1863, President Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address during the dedication of a new national cemetery at the site of the Battle of Gettysburg. The Civil War effectively ended with the surrender of General Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia in April 1865.”
II Bicentennial of our Glorious United States of America.
Threads of Glory 200 Years of America in Words and Music 4 CDs 2003 Classics for sale online | eBay
Originally this was produced on LP format.
When our USA observed its Bi -Centennial in 1976, Mr. Lee bowman and Mr. Si Alpert got the idea of defining the periods of great adventure and major crises in the History of the Nation over the first 200 years. Mr. Bowman and Mr. Steve Alpert assembled an exceptional cast of Actors, Giants of TV, Stage and Film who worked tirelessly to create this masterpiece by describing epochal events that define who we are as Americans. Land of the Free because of the Brave.
CD One:
From Track1 and 2:Introduction, Give me Liberty or death and Paul Revere’s ride to Track 9 : The Pioneer Spirit, Cotton Is King and “Old Hickory” including the Bill of rights, President George Washington’s farewell Address
CD Two
From Track 1 remember the Alamo to Track 10: Westward Expansion and the American Indian. Cowboys and the romance of Old West. There are great descriptions of the Pioneering and Courageous campaigns of Dorothea Dix for affirming the humanity of persons with mental disorders and marginalized by society as well as the Women’s Suffragette causes.
CD Three
From Track 1: “ Give me your tired and your poor” Immigration. An age of Industry and Invention… to Track 11: Truman’s Civil Rights Message.
CD Four
From Track 1: The 38th Parallel, The Korean Conflict, Berlin Airlift. 2. Nuclear arms Race Begins 3. October Missile Crisis 4. I have a Dream- Dr. Martin L. King Jr. 5. Dallas 11-22 1963, 7. LBJ- Civil Rights and VN War, 9. The eagle has Landed, 12: Threads of Glory- Our Priceless Heritage. 13. Curtain Call
III. https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2017/12/fourfreedoms/
Norman Rockwell- Four Freedoms- [1943] -Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear was inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s State of the union speech in 1941 was painted during the very dark days of WW-II in 1943. This celebrated series of National Portraits were first published on February 20, February 27, March 6, and March 13, 1943, along with commissioned essays from leading American writers and historians (Booth Tarkington, Will Durant, Carlos Bulosan, and Stephen Vincent Benét, respectively). It was inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s State of the union speech in 1941. As America entered the war in the Annual Message to Congress (State of the Union Address) on January 6, 1941,President Roosevelt proclaimed these "four freedoms" - the freedom of speech, the freedom of worship, the freedom from want, and the freedom from fear - symbolized America's war aims and gave hope in the following years to a war-wearied people because they knew they were fighting for freedom.
Norman Rockwell Four Freedoms
Freedom of Speech- Booth Tarkington: Booth Tarkington’s ‘Freedom of Speech’ | The Saturday Evening Post, Published 02 20, 1943
Freedom from Want- Carlos Bulosan: Carlos Bulosan’s ‘Freedom from Want’ | The Saturday Evening Post Published originally on 02 27, 1943
Freedom from Fear- Stephen Vincent Benet: Stephen Vincent Benét’s ‘Freedom from Fear’ | The Saturday Evening Post Originally Published March 13, 1943.
Freedom of Worship- Will Burant: Will Durant’s ‘Freedom of Worship’ | The Saturday Evening Post Published originally 02 27 1943
In addition: Norman Rockwell painted Ruby Bridges being Escorted to School. It is 1960 in New Orleans. It is the first time a black child is going to an all-white grade school in the American South.
John Steinbeck was there. He wrote about it in “Travels with Charley in Search of America” {1962}
Col. Charles D. Allen (U.S. Army, ret) is a Professor of Leadership and Cultural studies at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA offers his perspectives as I on July 4th and the four freedoms that mean so much to all of us a free citizens of these United States of America and have been cherished for the past 245 years and I trust will be treasured and cherished, preserved and protected in th years to come for generations
This 4th of July, let’s remember to honor FDR’s 4 Freedoms [Opinion]
By Capital-Star Op-Ed Contributor
July 3, 2020, By Col. Charles D. Allen [US Army Retd]
This weekend we will celebrate Independence Day to mark our declaration of intention to separate from a government that tread on our unalienable rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” What American colonists sought then was freedom from an oppressive system and subsequently demonstrated they were willing to fight and die for such freedom.
In the closing minutes of his January 1941 State of the Union Address and weeks after the nation’s entrance World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke of four freedoms as values of democratic societies.
In preceding years, totalitarian and fascist regimes of Germany, Japan, and Italy continually demonstrated disregard for such values. In his exhortation, FDR was building the case for U.S. intervention for the sake of others—that is, the security of allied governments and their people: “In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.
The first is freedom of speech and expression — everywhere in the world.
“The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way — everywhere in the world.
“The third is freedom from want. Which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants — everywhere in the world.
“The fourth is freedom from fear. Which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor — anywhere in the world.”
The themes of FDR’s speech are poignantly captured by the imagery of Norman Rockwell’s series of paintings, “The Four Freedoms” featured in The Saturday Evening Post.
In a Book- My adventures as an Illustrator by Norman Rockwell, Published by Harry N. Abrams Inc 1988. There are evocative paintings and sketches: 1. Southern Justice- Commemorating the murders of three Heroic freedom Riders 2. Ruby Bridges- The African American Child who was escorted to her school 3. Family tree quite inclusive, 4. Freedom of Speech 5. Stark representation of fear wrought by prejudice
V. A. https://abagond.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/norman-rockwell-the-problem-we-all-live-with/
A. portrait of Ms. Ruby Bridges’ first day in School. Norman Rockwell: The Problem we all live with.
"In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute."
—Thurgood Marshall
The Problem We All Live With” (1964) is arguably the best Norman Rockwell painting ever. It shows Ruby Bridges, a six-year-old black girl, walking to school – with four guards. It is 1960 in New Orleans. It is the first time a black child is going to an all-white grade school in the American South.
John Steinbeck was there. He wrote about it in “Travels with Charley in Search of America” (1962):
The painting is about racism: Rockwell calls it “The Problem We All Live With”. Yet racism remains faceless. We do not see the faces of the white women shouting indelicate things. And neither Steinbeck nor the newspapers nor the television stations would let us know what they were.
While both Steinbeck and Rockwell clearly condemn racism, it is the racism of open hatred, the Klan-and-n-word sort of racism. Rockwell even has “KKK”, and “nigger” written on the wall. Untouched is the racism common back north where they lived, the racism that created white flight, bad schools, and high crime rates.
All the same, for Rockwell this picture was a huge step. It was like Nixon going to China or Walter Cronkite condemning the Vietnam War: Rockwell was so famous for painting whitewashed pictures of Apple-pie America, almost to the point of parody, that it made this picture that much more powerful. He even painted it in a more true-to-life style, yet it is still clearly Rockwellian
V. B. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/671312/this-is-your-time-by-ruby-bridges/BOUT THIS IS YOUR TIME
I offer this link to a book written by Ms. Ruby Bridges:
“This is your Time” by Ruby Bridges
“This beautifully designed volume features photographs from the 1960’s and from today, as well as the Jacket Art from “The Problem we all live with” the 1964 painting by Norman Rockwell depicting Ruby Bridges Walk to School that terrifying historic day in those momentous times in our USA. She took the steps that will lead us to a place where we can build a more perfect Union where we all matter to each other irrespective of all our differences: National Origins, gender, class, race and LEP
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Civil rights icon Ruby Bridges—who, at the age of six, was the first black child to integrate into an all-white elementary school in New Orleans—inspires readers and calls for action in this moving letter. Her elegant, memorable gift book is especially uplifting in the wake of Kamala Harris making US history as the first female, first Black, and first South Asian vice president–elect.
Written as a letter from civil rights activist and icon Ruby Bridges to the reader, This Is Your Time is both a recounting of Ruby’s experience as a child who had to be escorted to class by federal marshals when she was chosen to be one of the first black students to integrate into New Orleans’ all-white public school system and an appeal to generations to come to effect change.
This beautifully designed volume features photographs from the 1960s and from today, as well as stunning jacket art from The Problem We All Live With, the 1964 painting by Norman Rockwell depicting Ruby’s walk to school.
Ruby’s honest and impassioned words, imbued with love and grace, serve as a moving reminder that “what can inspire tomorrow often lies in our past.” This Is Your Time will electrify people of all ages as the struggle for liberty and justice for all continues and the powerful legacy of Ruby Bridges endures.
VI. https://www.insidehook.com/article/art/for-freedoms
New Paintings of the Four freedoms : Artists Hank Willis Thomas and Emily Shur of For Freedoms – an artist-led platform.
Four Freedoms: An Updated Version of Four Norman Rockwell Classics
By Evan Bleier / February 7, 2019, 5:00 am
Seventy-five years after Rockwell first painted them, artists Hank Willis Thomas and Emily Shur of For Freedoms – an artist-led platform which is investigating how art can increase public discourse and political awareness in the U.S. – decided to create an updated version of Rockwell’s imagery in a series of photographs.
This is a dialogue about our society today,” said ICP executive director Mark Lubell. “They’ve taken Norman Rockwell’s paintings from FDR’s 1941 speech in which he referenced the four freedoms and given them a contemporary spin. And it is a dialogue about where we are today.”
Four of the pieces of that dialogue, accompanied by Rockwell’s original paintings, are below along with a brief Q&A between RealClearLife and ICP exhibitions manager Ava Hess.
Freedom from Fear, 2018. (Image courtesy of Hank Willis Thomas, Emily Shur, and For Freedoms) Two male parents tucking in two children with the one of the partners touching the other affectionately compared to Mr Rockwell’s image of a Man and woman tucking in two children
Freedom of Worship, 2018. (Image courtesy of Hank Willis Thomas, Emily Shur, and For Freedoms) Multi-cultural group of people including Indigenous people compared to a Caucasian congregation in Mr Rockwell’s painting.
Freedom of Speech, 2018. (Image courtesy of Hank Willis Thomas, Emily Shur, and For Freedoms) A Black Person is addressing a multi-racial audience compared to a Caucasian person addressing all Caucasian audience.
Freedom from Want, 2018. (Image courtesy of Hank Willis Thomas, Emily Shur, and For Freedoms) Multi-Cultural family group at a in contrast to a Traditional Thanks- giving dinner with an all-Caucasian Family painted by Mr. Rockwell.
VII. A
The Constitution of the United States - Sam Fink, illustrator – The Patriot Post Shop
The Constitution of the United States of America- Inscribed and Illustrated by Sam Fink with Benjamin Franklin’s Address to the Delegates upon signing of the Constitution.
I highly recommend just scanning through the very well-illustrated pages with eloquent prose followed careful review and reflection on particular components of our Constitution and the various phases of its evolution and ongoing review of our rights and responsibilities and can provide context for the events that has come to known as the Insurrection of January 6, 2021
VII B Article VI Section 3 | Constitution Annotated | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
The Senators and Representatives are enjoined by the Constitution to take the Oath of office
“The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
— U.S. Constitution, Article VI, clause 3
VII. C 1
The insurrection on January 6th was the first time the US Capitol, the Cathedral of the First Amendment was invaded by Enemies from within, not foreign with the express purpose of preventing the Congress from conducting its Constitutional responsibility to fulfill the requirements of Section 1 of Article II of the Constitution: “ The President of the Senate shall in the presence of the Senate and The House of Representatives , open all the Certificate, and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of Votes shall be President. As it turns out after the insurrection was quelled Mr. Biden was declared the winner.
VII. C. 2 a
U.S. Congress Confirms All Votes Of Mr. Joe Biden's Electoral College - Todaysoon
At the end of the tally, Mr Pence said: “The statement by the President of the Senate on the state of state votes is considered sufficient to determine who is elected President and Vice President of the United States, for the mandate. from January 20, 202The total number of voters nominated to vote for the US president is 538, of which [the number to be dominated] the majority is 270…. Joseph R Biden, of the State of Delaware, received 306 votes; Donald J. Trump of Florida received 232 votes. “The same number was read by Mr. Pence for the vice-presidential votes.
VII. C. 2 b.
Sen Ted Cruz who had prior to the Insurrection opposed the ratification offered this message:
“… I hope Congress will not dismiss these concerns, but I also respect the position of each of my colleagues. Debate in the bicameral Congress is the right way to resolve our political differences, and not through violent attacks.”
“Now, Congress must fulfill our constitutional responsibility, which is to complete the Electoral College certification process. We must, and I am convinced, that we will have a peaceful and orderly transfer of power in accordance with the Constitution. “
VII.C. 2.c. https://www.lankford.senate.gov/news/press-releases/lankford-condemns-violent-destructive-protests-at-capitol-on-senate-floor
WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today spoke during debate on certification of the electoral votes to condemn the acts of violence and destruction at the Capitol complex today as a mob of protestors stormed the Capitol building. Lankford also issued a joint statement this evening with Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) on the election certification process and the need for attention to address concerns of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election from Oklahomans and around the nation.
Transcript
The Vice President said things more eloquently than how we say it in Oklahoma. In Oklahoma we’d say something like, ‘Why in God’s name would someone think attacking law enforcement and occupying the United States Capitol is the best way to show you’re right? Why would you do that?’ Rioters and thugs don’t run the Capitol. We’re the United States of America. We disagree on a lot of things, and we have a lot of spirited debate in this room. But we talk it out, and we honor each other—even in our disagreement. That person, that person, that person is not my enemy. That’s my fellow American. And while we disagree on things—and disagree strongly at times—we do not encourage what happened today. Ever.
Now, I want to join my fellow Senators in saying thank you to the Capitol Hill Police, the law enforcement, the National Guard, and the Secret Service, who stood in harm’s way. While we were here debating, they were pushing back. And I was literally interrupted mid-sentence, speaking here because we were all unaware of what was happening right outside this room, because of their faithfulness and because of what they have done. And I want to thank them.
Obviously, the commission that we have asked for is not going to happen at this point, and I understand that, and we’re headed towards tonight, towards the certification of Joe Biden to be the President of the United States. And we will work together in this body to be able to set a peaceful example in the days ahead.
VII. C. 2 d. Sen. James Lankford responds to storming of U.S. Capitol – 102.3 KRMG
I offer this statement from Sen. James Lankford [R- OK] and Sen Steve Daines [R-MT] at the end of the insurrection. Sen J. Lankford was in mid -sentence of his speech opposing the Certification of the election just yet when he received information and exited the Senate Chamber which was adjourned shortly.
Sen. Lankford and Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) released a joint statement on the certification of President-elect Joe Biden.
“Today is a sad day for our country. The destruction and violence at our nation’s Capital is an assault on democracy. We thank the men and women of the US Capitol Police for working to restore peace. The actions at the Capitol are indefensible and not supported by the vast majority of Trump supporters. We must rise above the violence.
“We must, and we will, have a peaceful and orderly transition of power. The violent actions of these rioters severely damages efforts to restore confidence in our elections. We will continue our calls to examine election integrity through all legal and peaceful means. ”We now need the entire Congress to come together and vote to certify the election results. We must stand together as Americans. We must defend our Constitution and the rule of law.”
The correspondence between Sen. Lankford and the people of North Tulsa constituents as well the Race Riot Massacre Commission speaks to the dynamism and resilience of the American form of Democracy and the authenticity of Constitutional protections of the rights of the people.
VII. C. 2. e. i
Insurrection Jan 6 Sen Lankford’s letter.pdf January 14, 2021, Letter of Apology to his Constituents in North Tulsa, who are truly “We the people “ he represents in the People’s House- the US Capitol.
VII. C. 2 e. ii
Insurrection jan 6 - Response-to-lankford-letter.1610749231962.pdf. Response from Sen. K. Matthews Chairman and Founder and Mr. Philip Armstrong, Project Director of Centennial Commission of the 1921-2021 Race Riot Massacre.
VII. C. 3.
Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? by Martin Luther King, Jr. | King Legacy Series (thekinglegacy.org). From Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. King’s prescient concluding remarks:
“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked, and dejected with a lost opportunity . . . This may well be mankind’s last chance to choose between chaos or community.”
VIII. A. You Can't Tell the Story of 1776 Without Talking About Race and Slavery (msn.com)
Slavery and arguments about race were not only at the heart of the American founding; it was what United the States in the first place. We have been reluctant to admit just how thoroughly the Founding Fathers thought about, talked about, and wrote about race at the moment of American independence. Robert. G. Parkinson 070321
…That the Continental Congress felt like Jefferson’s antislavery sentiments were too controversial, but the accusation of “instigated insurrections” was not, suggests just how successful their campaign had been. Patriot leaders found one thing that white colonists shared: racism. The founders embraced and mobilized colonial prejudices about potentially dangerous African Americans and used those fears to unite the colonists in one “common cause.” For too long we have taken an elderly John Adams at his word about what brought the thirteen colonies together. He had forgotten—purposefully—how four decades earlier he had mobilized American prejudices about Black people (what today we would call racism) to get the colonies to come together as one union. That effort made America independent, but it also buried race deep in the cornerstone of the American republic that was born on July 4, 1776. [ Slaves and slavery were not spoken in polite conversation and only with this euphemism, “Peculiar Institution of Slavery.” Dr King referred to this in his Letter from the Birmingham Jail: as an experience common among African Americans of “degenerating sense of nobodiness.” The multitude of such experiences over 3 centuries had a become intolerably corrosive when his direct-action Satyagraha Campaign was launched.
VIII. B. M.L.King: 1963 Public statement by 8 Alabama clergymen (massresistance.org) Public Statement by eight Alabama clergymen- Denouncing Martin Luther King's efforts, April 12, 1963. This statement will provide insights into prevailing views about the advocacy efforts of Black person, descendents of Slaves seeking their rights under the XIII, XIV and XV Amendments
… The first half of the letter was introduced into testimony before Congress by Representative William Fitts Ryan (D–NY) and published in the Congressional Record. One year later, King revised the letter and presented it as a chapter in his 1964 memoir of the Birmingham Campaign, Why We Can’t Wait, a book modeled after the basic themes set out in “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”
In Why We Can’t Wait, King recalled in an author’s note accompanying the letter’s republication how the letter was written. It was begun on pieces of newspaper, continued on bits of paper supplied by a black trustee, and finished on paper pads left by King’s attorneys. After countering the charge that he was an “outside agitator” in the body of the letter, King sought to explain the value of a “nonviolent campaign” and its “four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action” (King, Why, 79). He went on to explain that the purpose of direct action was to create a crisis situation out of which negotiation could emerge.
The body of King’s letter called into question the clergy’s charge of “impatience” on the part of the African American community and of the “extreme” level of the campaign’s actions (“White Clergymen Urge”). “For years now, I have heard the word ‘Wait!’” King wrote. “This ‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never’” (King, Why, 83). He articulated the resentment felt “when you are forever fighting a degenerating sense of ‘nobodiness’—then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait” (King, Why, 84). King justified the tactic of civil disobedience by stating that, just as the Bible’s Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to obey Nebuchadnezzar’s unjust laws and colonists staged the Boston Tea Party, he refused to submit to laws and injunctions that were employed to uphold segregation and deny citizens their rights to peacefully assemble and protest.[This is protected under the First Amendment
IX. “A Nation needs to Pray:” Robert B. Anderson, Served as both Secretary of the Navy and Treasury in President Eisenhower’s Cabinet
A nation needs to pray: Anderson, Robert B: Amazon.com: Books
“A Nation needs to pray” Unknown Binding – January 1, 1963 by Robert B Anderson (Author)
Foreword by General Dwight D. Eisenhower [President of the USA], “Throughout the Nation’s history, a deeply felt religious faith has been a powerful force molding Americans in uncounted ways. Robert B. Anderson’s moving, and poetic Statement of this deep-rooted national tradition is a stirring reaffirmation of the American Faith. Most Importantly, he demonstrates the strength which is found only with the realization of man’s humble dependence on the Almighty.” I commend “ A Nation Needs to Pray” to men of goodwill everywhere. They can, through it, profit greatly, profit greatly from Dr. Anderson’s insights into the fundamentals of our life as a nation.” “Excerpts: Robert Anderson: “
“ A nation needs to pray,
For things it has,
For things it has not earned,
For gifts from men now dead, some dead
So long ago we never knew they lived,
…
“ And yet when all is done, we still shall seek,
To yet define that which humanity,
That quality that makes of mass,
And flesh, and good and bad,
A nation: That needs to pray”
We labor to produce by rule and plan,
By Treaty and Documents,
What we fail in Practice and in precept to lay down,
From out of all that troubles us,
Toward solutions that clarify
And not confound us,
Where shall we find the answer?
…
Our Greatest need is :
For a wisdom that transcends our own.
For a devotion that insures
There is no instant of neglect,
For that, wherein is held,
The fate of all,
The Nation needs to pray.
It is best for us to take this opportunity to proclaim a prayer of gratitude for being an integral, indivisible part of this great nation that is our United States of America. We all have so much to be thankful for, and as we celebrate this 4th of July may we never take our fervently cherished and fondly treasured Four Freedoms that you enjoy in this land for granted ever. May we by God’s grace have a blessed Independence Day this day and in days to follow.
X. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRUjr8EVgBg
I would love for us to celebrate the 245th birthday by answering the call from Brother Ray to join him as he provides us a unique evocative, heartwarming, inspiring rendering of America the Beautiful.
Oh beautiful, for heroes proved,
In liberating strife,
Who more than self, their country loved,
And mercy more than life,
This America, sweet America, may God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain devined.
You know, I wish I had somebody
to help me sing this
America, I love you America, you see,
My God he done shed his grace on thee,
And you oughta love him for it,
He, he, he, he, crowned thy good,
He told me he would, with brotherhood,
From sea to shining sea
Oh,yea Jesus, I want to thank you Lord.
A City upon a Hill" is a phrase from the parable of Salt and Light in Jesus's Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:14, he tells his listeners, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
XI. The Pledge of Allegiance (ushistory.org)
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
E Pluribus Unum describes an action: Many uniting into one. An accurate translation of the motto is "From Many, One" or Out of Many, One"
The meaning of this motto is better understood
when seen with the image that originally accompanied it:
Let us strive resiliently and resolutely to join hands and form a more perfect Union.
Finally, I want to remind ourselves that these United are us and we are the United States of America and most importantly This land is your land, this land is your land and especially this land was made for you and me. I want to share these poignant verses from Woody Guthrie’s “ This Land is your Land”
Woody Guthrie – This Land Is Your Land Lyrics | Genius Lyrics
It was written in 1940, first recorded in 1944. But there was a major Omission: Verses Four and Six referring to Private Property and food insecurity and hunger that was prevalent then as it appears to be a tragic, unremitting, intractable human condition for millions of our fellow Americans.
I have excerpted these very relevant verses which are representative of the unfinished work we have to accomplish by committing ourselves acting as one as our Motto states [E Pluribus Unum], from Many One to bend the ARC of Moral Universe towards Justice and succeed in forming a more perfect Union in our own lifetimes and not leave it to others who follow.
As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said "No Trespassing"
But on the other side it didn't say nothing
That side was made for you and me
In the squares of the City, shadow of the steeple
I saw my people
By the relief office I seen my people
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking
Is this land made for you and me?
Nobody living can ever stop me
As I go walking that freedom highway
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me
I whole heartedly endorse this affirming aspiration.
We are the land of the FREE because of the Brave among us in every generation. All gave some and some gave all to protect our homes, families, faith traditions and our Four precious Freedoms that we cherish and treasure in every generation during these 245 years and will be the invaluable legacy we leave to those whom we expect will continue to aspire to create a more Perfect Union.
May God bless the United States of America. May God bless our Military, our Veterans, and their families.