LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Monday, July 4, 2016

Happy Independence Day



...That all men are created equal...





 July 4th is a very special holiday here in the United States.  It is wonderful to be patriotic and loyal to our beloved country.  I advise you however, to be a bit skeptical of folks who boast that they are VERY PATRIOTIC.  Let these and all of us not forget where we came from and that all of our ancestors (except for Native Americans) came here as immigrants or refugees.


 The "New Colossus."  Our Statue of Liberty, Mother of Exiles.
Liberty Enlightening the World

In 1883, American poet Emma Lazarus wrote a sonnet to help raise money for a pedestal for the Statue of Liberty.  The complete poem is on a plaque inside the statue and the final portion is on a bronze plaque on the outside of the pedestal.

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she with silent lips.  
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"


So as you celebrate this Independence Day with picnics and fireworks, please remember that while we must love our country, we are not alone on this planet.  I hope all of us can strive to be more accepting of other people while still proud to be Americans.


HAVE A WONDERFUL INDEPENDENCE DAY

I'm taking another blogging break for a week.  Summertime and the living is easy with guests coming to visit the mountains.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I always appreciate your perspective on our country's holidays. Thoughtful and smart. Thank you for that. Enjoy your blogging break and your company!

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

A perfect post for today! I've not read the verse in a long time, they are perfect for today, thank-you for posting it.

Enjoy your break, and I hope you and your company have a wonderful visit making great new memories!

KB said...


An absolutely perfect post for this 4th of July, with all the rhetoric from those who bellow that they are patriotic but their beliefs don't reflect our country's history.

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend.

Ms. A said...

Enjoy the company!

Busy Bee Suz said...

Beautiful!!! Enjoy your visitors.

Barbara Rogers said...

Lovely to quote that welcoming poem...I'm so proud that we have that stance posted in a public way. We as a country have certainly grown stronger for all the diversity we have welcomed. THanks.

Tara said...

I love the phrase mother of exiles . Yes and we should be . I watch the PBS special for the Fourth of July last night and was really impressed with the diverse crowd . That is who we are .

Arkansas Patti said...

I hope we never forget to welcome the tired, the poor, and huddled masses yearning to breathe free. As you said, unless Native Americans, we are all immigrants.
Enjoy your break.

Nance said...

I am only second-generation American. My father's parents came here from Croatia looking to build a new life for themselves. My hometown, Lorain, Ohio, has a rich immigrant history, most recently a Latino one. I was always grateful for being brought up in a diverse and tolerant community. It helped me be a better teacher, parent, and human being.

It's easy to see what happens if we forget Who We Are as a country. The example is, unfortunately, forced upon us by the media every waking moment. Sigh.

troutbirder said...

You captured it exactly. Let us never forget ....

How Sam Sees It said...

We hope you had a wonderful 4th!

Monty, Harlow and Ramble

Ginnie said...

That's a wonderful picture of the Statue of Liberty. It's sad that so many people don't honor the words of Emma Lazarus.

Vicki Lane said...

Wise words -- and so appropriate. Enjoy your break!

Lowcarb team member said...

I hope you are having a thoroughly lovely time with your guests ...

All the best Jan