Independence Day 2003

Happy Fourth of July! And, hopefully, we're all celebrating it with all of the pomp and pageantry that John Adams hoped for on this day. Well, not exactly this day. . . .

I have a surprise for you all. Independence wasn't declared on July 4. It was actually declared by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia two days earlier, on July 2. Writing home to his wife Abigail, Adams specifically stated that he hoped the Second of July would become a great holiday for the new United States of America, but there proved to be one hitch; the exact wording of Thomas Jefferson's draft of the Declaration of Independence was in question (particularly with how it dealt with the delicate issue of slavery), and the Continental Congress put off approving a final draft for a couple of days. Thus, when the Declaration of Independence was officially adopted, it bore the date July 4. As more than one historian noted, what happened was that the adoption of the document announcing the declaration of American independence overshadowed the actual declaration itself. Which makes sense in a way; after all, we Americans don't accept anything as so unless it's put in writing. No matter; Adams would live long enough to see his wishes for a festive Independence Day come true.

So how am I celebrating the day? Well, I'm certainly going to catch tonight's fireworks. Also, I went to local parade in Montclair, New Jersey, which included all-American attractions as antique cars, marching bands, and state militia battalions. However, it also included marchers protesting the occupation of Iraq, the abolition of the state poet laureate's post that had been held by the controversial Amiri Baraka (who offended people with a September 11 poem that was perceived as being against Israel and the Jewish people), abortion rights marchers, gay rights advocates, and a contingent sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union! Hallelujah and praise the prophet of your choice, it's good to know that freedom of expression is alive and well in the U.S. of A! Happy Independence Day, everyone!

Whenever it is. :-)