Happy July 4th!

I hope you all have a happy and safe 4th!

Independence Day
History.com – History of the Fourth of July
CNN – A guide to 4th of July for non-Americans

This Fourth of July, why have we lost our patriotism?
“America didn’t complete the project of freedom on that broiling day in Philly, but that’s like saying your kid’s first day of school is no big deal because your kids can’t do algebra yet. On July 4, 1776, we began setting up the greatest opportunity for human flourishing the world has ever known, and our example continues to be the world’s beacon. The United States of America isn’t perfect. We’re merely the best.”

50 maps that explain how America lives, spends, and believes
“America is a massive, diverse, beautiful, and complicated place. One of the best ways to understand a country like the US is through maps… As America prepares to celebrate its birthday on the Fourth of July, we’ve put together a collection of maps that provide a sense of how the population is doing, both as a community and as individual citizens.The maps focus on the 50 states and (in most cases) Washington, DC. They’re all based on data from the past few years and provide a snapshot of contemporary America and its people’s lives and beliefs.”

I had posted this stuff below 3 years ago:
“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…”
United States Declaration of Independence at Wikipedia
Independence Day (United States) at Wikipedia

Beautiful rendition of the The Star-Spangled Banner at the Lincoln Memorial by an ordinary American with an extraordinary voice.

 
My Favorite National Anthem Renditions

2nd Fav

All-time Fav (sometimes it’s about timing)