Welcome to the World of Pulitzer Prize Winning Political Cartoonist Michael P. Ramirez
Beacon 07-04-17 See Michael's latest cartoons HERE
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!
July 4, 2017 "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation." "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." With these words written by Thomas Jefferson, on this day, 241 years ago, America declared it's independence and the great American experiment has become a beacon for liberty, freedom and justice for all the world to see. I have visited many countries around the world with tyrannical authoritarian regimes and oppression, countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Cuba, Soviet satellites in Eastern Europe, occupied East Germany, San Francisco... and let me tell you what a privilege it is that we live in the greatest country in the world, the United States of America. Let's Celebrate America today!!! And every day! Teach your children the history behind this celebration - the Declaration that brought individual liberty, self-governance, and the spirit of democracy to life; natural rights consecrated by God, an enduring freedom imbued by a revolutionary spirit, liberty established with the blood of patriots and guaranteed by our constitution. It was a bold Declaration 241 years ago, the idea that power lies in the hands of the governed and not the government, and a grand promise for those who strive for freedom today. There are far too many who take our freedom for granted. This freedom is paid for with the sacrifice of those willing to die for a great cause. That great cause is America. In a letter to William Stephens Smith from Paris on Nov. 13. 1787, Jefferson wrote "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants." Let us remember those who have served and who are serving now, those patriots and their families who have sacrificed to preserve the liberty and freedom that we celebrate today. Some believe that America is just one nation among many, many nations. They are wrong. 241 years ago, this declaration and the belief in independence set America apart from the rest of the world and today, 241 years later, America remains the extraordinary nation that rises above all other nations as an example of freedom and a beacon of liberty. Happy Birthday America! I hope you all have a wonderful day! |
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