Happy Fourth

Except to post the Jeopardy! answers/questions, I'm taking the weekend off. Not particularly because of the holiday, but because for various reasons I need to. But since it is the holiday weekend, I wanted to leave you with this...

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. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

...and this.

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Keep them in mind for the next time any reactionary nutcase of your acquaintance suggests that dissent, even outright resistance, is "unpatriotic" or mouths some asinine platitude like "well, he's the president" or in any way implies that the community acting as a whole - i.e., government - has no role helping the poor or environmental protection or whatever. Resistance to injustice is not only our right, it's our duty.

Or, if you really want to tick them off, try this from Thomas Jefferson in a November 13, 1787 letter, referring to Shay's Rebellion:

God forbid we should ever be 20 years without such a rebellion.

Now go enjoy some fireworks. See you Monday.