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Show July 4th Independence Day 1983 As night falls on the Fourth of July m thousands of communities across the nation, a kaleidescope of fireworks will illuminate the darkened skies. ; These spectacular presentations, often changing color and form as we watch and produce realistic imitations of "bombs bursting in air," border close to fantasy. Such displays are highly imaginative im-aginative in concept, and in turn, stir the imagination of many who watch them. The purpose of these events, as we know, is to celebrate the 207 years in which the United States has stood as . the bulwark of liberty. Independence Day marks the climax of the annual 21-day Honor America campaign spof-sored spof-sored by the American Historic and Cultural Society, Inc. The 21-day tribute corresponds to the traditional 21-gun salute accorded to a head of state. The magic of the fireworks engenders some imaginative opinions. In the life span of our republic some : painful episodes have occurred which kindled the notion that possibly our citizens have too much liberty. Benjamin Ben-jamin Franklin anticipated such ideas when he wrote, "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary tem-porary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." But the liberty we love definitely entails en-tails responsibility. What most of the Founding Fathers fought for was a disciplined, moderate, law-respecting freedom. "Liberty exists in proportion to wholesome restraints," Daniel Webster noted. This current year marks the 200th anniversary of the formal ending of the Revolutionary War, achieved by the signing of the Treaty of Paris with Great Britain in 1783. The American signers were Franklin, John Adams and John Jay. In that great conflict the infant nation learned the importance of having a staunch ally the French. Coincidentally, the same year saw the initiation of manned flight. After Franklin had viewed a balloon ascension ascen-sion in Paris, a skeptic challenged him with a question about the usefulness of balloons. The printer-scientist- diplomat replied, "What good is a baby?" As the first president of the United States of America, George Washington's views harmonized with those of the other Founding Fathers. Washington sought to remain aloof from partisan jolitical struggles, but he did not always succeed. But he fully ful-ly realized that liberty could not long survive without prudent limits. Out of his experience he offered a piece of sound advice to his fellow countrymen. "Be Americans," he counselled. "Let there be no sectionalism, no North, South, East or West. You are all depend on one another and should be one in union. In one word, be a nation : be Americans and be true to yourselves." Still under the spell of those dancing fireworks, let us consider the import of those words. Undoubtedly your ideas may differ strongly from your neighbor's on certain problems. But heed Washington's counsel and seek to heal your differences amicably. As the first president said, "Be Americans." |
