Refreshing Revolution among the People

I am not suggesting revolution among the people today by any means but what am I suggesting is consideration of the meaning and origins of the American Revolution. One of the purposes of this blog has been and will continue to be a refreshment of the facts, events, people, and purposes of our American Heritage. So let me go back to the question of revolution, what does it mean?

The length of an answer to this question could fill book shelves with volumes on the subject. What I am asking is for the person reading this to think about it? What did the revolution mean? Was it solely a political matter in which an oppressive government was forcing their will upon a non-represented distant peoples? Was it a social matter do to the fact that Americans were simply a completely different people than their English counterparts and a separation was the only answer? Was it economically due to England's restrictions on American trade and free market practices? There are so many reasons and possibilities that considering a single root cause to the issue would be impossible. Many historians would argue that it was a multitude of reasons which collided to spawn revolution. The point is for us to always keep in our minds our revolution. To learn about our founding and discover for ourselves the meaning behind it.

With only two days until we celebrate the 233rd anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence there is so much for us to be thankful. When you watch the fireworks and celebrate with friends consider for a second how it all started, who helped start it, and why. Ask your children and grandchildren if they know who are George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. Most important ask them why they were significant before they became Presidents. Finally I want to leave you with a quote from Thomas Jefferson. I welcome comments being left which talk about your thoughts on the following quote and what it means for us today.

"God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. ...And what country can preserve its liberties, if it's rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants.It is its natural manure."

Happy Fourth of July Everyone!