DISQUS

serafina · 4 months ago

Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Wishing you a Glorious Fourth, Mr. G and friends!

Patrick12 · 4 months ago

And God bless president Obama.

Dave_in_Gainesville · 4 months ago

Right back atcha, TG. Keep up the good work.

gypc_dave · 4 months ago

"God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home." - Irving Berlin, 1938

Happy Independence Day!

michelle2008 · 4 months ago

As much as I love Irving Berlin, gypc_dave, I have to rebut with Woody Guthries' rebuttal to "God Bless America"--my two favorite (and most controversial) verses of "This Land Is Your Land":

As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there
And that sign said - no tress passin'
But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!

In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.

Now MY rebuttal to Woody is, yes, it is--once again! :-)

Happy Independence Day to all--and keep up the wonderful work, Taegan! Now, I plan to re-read the Declaration of Independence as I do every July 4th (yes, I'm a history geek!)

Patrick12 · 4 months ago

Michelle, Remember the important line from Father Thomas Jefferson: "That to secure these rights governments are instituted among men deriving their powers from THE JUST CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED." Enjoy your newly reestablished freedom (as of 1/20/09) and thanks for reminding us all that this land was made for you and me.

michelle2008 · 4 months ago

Patrick, right you are--the just consent of the governed is one of the great lines of this beautifully written document. Hope your 4th was great!

Meffy · 4 months ago

Woody was a national treasure, and his son likewise.

gypc_dave · 4 months ago

I take my handle from a song recorded by Woodie and re-done by Arlo, two of my favorite Americans.

Meffy · 4 months ago

Yup, I learnt it as "Black Jack Davy" but heard Woody and Pete and company sing a different version later, and Steeleye Span after that. Many many verses and alternates; one of those deep caverns the folklorists can explore for ages.

michelle2008 · 4 months ago

I couldn't agree more--for some reason, I always think of both of them on July 4th--Woody for obvious reasons, but "Alice's Restaurant," "The Motorcycle Song" and "The City of New Orleans" are all 3 classic Americana. Happy 4th, Guthries!

(Hope you're feeling better, Meffy!)

Meffy · 4 months ago

Lots of great tunes between father and son. They're prominent in the soundtrack of my life.

Thanks, it was a thankfully short attack this time. :-} I think.

Meffy · 4 months ago

Now I'll have to call you gypc_kate.

NevadaTom · 4 months ago

God bless the Usa and make sure to not blow your hands off this year guys :P keep it safe and stuff.

Meffy · 4 months ago

When I was a young kit I checked out -- from the school library, I kid you not -- a book no longer available for children titled "Fun With Fireworks." It warned the reader not to blow any fingers or eyes off, then gave delightful recipes for making all kinds of great pyrotechnics from scratch. Amazingly, I never blew any fingers or eyes off, though my fur did occasionally get singed.

This year, as usual, we're watching the Washington, D.C., national fireworks concert show on (small-screen) television. The fireworks are a kind of reward for having suffered through the Barry Manilow numbers.

Oo, I hear Dogwood Dell starting up now. *goes outside to see whether anything's visible*

pbrower2a · 4 months ago

Happy Fourth, and let the fireworks be infinitely more satisfying than partisan sniping.

Meffy · 4 months ago

They were, though the only ones we saw in person were fireflies flashing at the edge of the woods. :-} This year they've been unusually plentiful.

rainfresh · 4 months ago

Happy 4th to everyone. We are having hamburgers & hot dogs, potato chips and fireworks tonight. That is if someone can get the gator out of the pond.

Meffy · 4 months ago

And to you.

Fixed and enjoyed a mini-burger on a home-baked English muffin last evening, as well as lime meringue pie which, thanks to a night in the refrigerator, is no longer filled with lime custard soup as it was when I tried a slice (erm, a puddle rather) after supper. Overnight good ol' Dr. Crohn once again told my immune system that my innards are a foreign material and as usual it's been tearing them apart with vigor and glee, so no more eatin' for a while. :-} Such great timing, right on a traditional food-enjoying day -- the irony is so delicious it could serve as a meal!

Hoping to get a glimpse of the Dogwood Dell fireworks show across the river come evening. We might have to head downstream a bit. Shame we can't boat at night; that would be nice but our Pony Pasture Rapids, though not spectacular, can be tricky even for skilled kayakers in full daylight.