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Posts Tagged ‘Honor America Days’
Day 6: The American Revolution
Sunday, June 19th, 2011Day 5: The Literature
Saturday, June 18th, 2011As a pleasant aside, let’s look at some of the famous literature spawned by the American Revolutionary War.
Books constitute capital. A library book lasts as long as a house, for hundreds of years. It is not, then, an article of mere consumption but fairly of capital, and often in the case of professional men, setting out in life, it is their only capital.—Thomas Jefferson
“It is a damn poor mind indeed which can’t think of at least two ways to spell any word.”—Andrew Jackson
The first we shall examine is the Longfellow version of Paul Revere’s Ride.
Continue reading “Day 5: The Literature” »
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Day 4: Duties of government (the same considered)
Friday, June 17th, 2011[11] To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
The Federalist Papers cover this in detail. It is one of the reasons that they wanted to prevent each state having an army and Navy. If the Southern states, for example, went to war with a foreign government with which the Northern states enjoyed friendly relations, there could be a problem. Letters of Marque and Reprisal are permissions to cross borders to effect reprisals. If States were allowed to issue these separately, they might use them against one another. There is no record of this occurring that I know of while we were a Confederation.
That is the logic for the limitation of the states having their own armies and navies, as well. Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution clearly outlines the responsibility of the Central Government in this area.
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Day 3: Duties of the government
Thursday, June 16th, 2011“It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their own selfish purposes.”—Andrew Jackson
For Day Three of our Honor America Days, we have decided to look into the those areas of responsibility that the Constitution affords the United States government. The major portion of those duties and responsibilities can be found in Article I., Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States of America. Let’s examine Article I in more detail. I have added the number of each clause in brackets for clarification.
In evaluating the Constitution, an anti-Federalist who wrote as “Brutus” wrote:
Perhaps this country never saw so critical a period in their political concerns. We have felt the feebleness of the ties by which these United-States are held together, and the want of sufficient energy in our present confederation, to manage, in some instances, our general concerns. Various expedients have been proposed to remedy these evils, but none have succeeded. At length a Convention of the states has been assembled, they have formed a constitution which will now, probably, be submitted to the people to ratify or reject, who are the fountain of all power, to whom alone it of right belongs to make or unmake constitutions, or forms of government, at their pleasure. The most important question that was ever proposed to your decision, or to the decision of any people under heaven, is before you, and you are to decide upon it by men of your own election, chosen specially for this purpose. If the constitution, offered to your acceptance, be a wise one, calculated to preserve the invaluable blessings of liberty, to secure the inestimable rights of mankind, and promote human happiness, then, if you accept it, you will lay a lasting foundation of happiness for millions yet unborn; generations to come will rise up and call you blessed. You may rejoice in the prospects of this vast extended continent becoming filled with freemen, who will assert the dignity of human nature. You may solace yourselves with the idea, that society, in this favoured land, will fast advance to the highest point of perfection; the human mind will expand in knowledge and virtue, and the golden age be, in some measure, realised. But if, on the other hand, this form of government contains principles that will lead to the subversion of liberty — if it tends to establish a despotism, or, what is worse, a tyrannic aristocracy; then, if you adopt it, this only remaining assylum for liberty will be shut up, and posterity will execrate your memory.
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Day 2: Declaration of Independence.
Wednesday, June 15th, 2011Continuing our Honor America Days celebration, it might do us well to review the Organic Laws. That is, the base laws for the founding fathers chose to be governed.
Ever wonder what started the War of Independence? There are many theories. The Declaration of Independence was a list of grievances against the crown which the founders used to justify the War of Independence. It was, indeed, a declaration of war. If we read that declaration, will we see any examples of those activities in our government today?
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Happy Flag Day and Flag Week!
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Click on image for larger view
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Day 1: Honor America Days
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011Today we begin our kick-off of an important holiday event. No, we’re not referring to Lief Erikson day. That is October 9th (36 USC Sec. 114). We are speaking, of course, about the bane to California, Honor America Days.
You say that you have never heard of Honor America Days? A search of the web revealed only the City of Rome, N.Y. seems to place any emphasis on this holiday, albeit a few days after the official celebration ends. You have probably never heard of Constitution and Citizenship Day or Law Day either. Thus it seems reasonable to educate you on what official patriotic observances are instituted by federal law.
Patriotic and National Observances, Ceremonies and Organizations are covered in Title 36 Chapter 1 of the United States Code. The “Organic Laws” consists of The Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Articles of Confederation and so-on. They can be found here. Title 4 concerns the flag and emblems of the government. I offer the last two references only in observance of the Honor America Days that we are now discussing.
Honor America Days is outlined in 36 USC Section 112 which designates “The 21 days from Flag Day through Independence Day is a period to honor America.” The Statute states that,
“Congress declares that there be public gatherings and activities during that period at which the people of the United States can celebrate and honor their country in an appropriate way.”
This seems to be a great time to spread the word about these 21 days and garner the participation of the people. We are going to do our part by trying to provide 21 days of information for your edification. Unfortunately, we have started this project a little late, so some of the information might be lacking.
Here are some suggestions that might be in line with this national event.
1. Display an American and/or State flag at your home.
2. Watch movies such as The Patriot, Red Dawn and other movies with a patriotic theme. Find videos of a patriotic theme on the web and watch them together with our family once each night.
3. If you are so inclined, gather at your church and pray for forgiveness for America and that we return to the Organic Law of the Constitution of the United States of America. The National Day of Prayer (36 USC Section 119) is on the first Thursday in May, “…on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.” It was declared unconstitutional in one federal court. Amazingly, Obama did issue a proclamation for National Prayer Day.
4. Gather the family together and review the Constitution and the important first Ten Amendments known as the Bill of Rights. Note that they are The Bill of Rights and not a few suggestions that we really think that you should consider.
5. Attend a Tea Party or Coffee Party, or whatever, sometime during this period. A parade would not be out of order. Some marching bands with American and State flags waving might be just the distraction. Allow Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, whatever party to participate. Seek participation by military, police and fire heroes.
Continue reading “Day 1: Honor America Days” »
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Honor America Days coming soon.
Sunday, May 15th, 2011
The twenty-one days from Flag Day, June 14, to July 4 are designated by federal law (Title 32) as Honor America Days. You probably have never heard of that holiday period. For our part, we will try to present topical articles on the subject beginning with a review of the holidays themselves.
If you have a celebration or event planned or have specific topics you would like reviewed during that twenty-one day period, please feel free to leave a comment.
Suggestions from our first article:
1. Display an American and/or State flag at your home.
2. Watch movies such as The Patriot, Red Dawn and other movies with a patriotic theme. Find videos of a patriotic theme on the web and watch them together with our family once each night.
3. If you are so inclined, gather at your church and pray for forgiveness for America and that we return to the Organic Law of the Constitution of the United States of America. The National Day of Prayer (36 USC Section 119) is on the first Thursday in May, “…on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.” It was declared unconstitutional in one federal court. Amazingly, Obama did issue a proclamation for National Prayer Day.
4. Gather the family together and review the Constitution and the important first Ten Amendments known as the Bill of Rights. Note that they are The Bill of Rights and not a few suggestions that we really think that you should consider.
5. Attend a Tea Party or Coffee Party, or whatever, sometime during this period. A parade would not be out of order. Some marching bands with American and State flags waving might be just the distraction. Allow Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, whatever party to participate. Seek participation by military, police and fire heroes.
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Happy Constitution Day and Constitution Week
Thursday, September 16th, 2010
What may be lost in all of the hoopla concerning Mexican Independence Day and “Patriot Day,” is a holiday little celebrated by the media. September 17th is Constitution Day. Constitution Week runs from the 17th to the 23rd of September. Obama even—probably grudgingly—prepared a proclamation for the day. One can only wonder if he has read it.
On this day, you have free access to the National Constitution Center web doin’s. Of course, we have the whole Constitution on this site as well as the amendments. So between your bite of burrito and mouthful of beans, this weekend, we recommend reading the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Stop being embarrassed for being an American. Learn the law of the land and how your Congress—Republican and Democrat—are supposed to work.
It is the perfect time since it is just before the election cycle. Read the Constitution and if your Congressman or Governor hasn’t, vote them out of office. I advise that you do not get twisted in the Matrix, though. Look over all of the options. Look at the Libertarian candidate web sites or the Green Party web site, or whatever. Do your research. Look at how your Republican candidates voted. Probably very nearly the same as the Democratic candidates. Read the Constitution and let them know that you did by how you vote.
Other Sites of Interest:
The United States Constitution Online
The Charters of Freedom—US Archives
The Federalist Papers—Thomas.gov
Anti-Federalist Papers—Constitution.org
Thanks to Gar for reminding me of this very important holiday
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IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776
Sunday, July 4th, 2010Every once in awhile, I run across a web site created by some of the youth of America that gives me hope that anyone can overcome their public education.
It used to be that on every 4th of July, in every town square and large park and courthouse steps and other gathering places, someone would get up and read the Declaration of Independence to the assembled revelers. It may be two hundred and thirty-four years since it was written, but to me those words still evoke all the courage and dignity and idealism and determination it took to make such a radical and irrevocable break with tradition and family and history. So step on up:
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.
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Daffy the Commando
Sunday, July 4th, 2010Jefferson’s “original Rough draught” of the Declaration of Independence
Sunday, July 4th, 2010EDITORIAL NOTE (2004)
(Printable version of this article in PDF format)
This text of the Declaration of Independence is from The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 1: 1760-1776 (Princeton University Press, 1950), 423-8. Although at some point Jefferson labeled this manuscript as the “original Rough draught,” it was not his first drafting of language for the Declaration. Portions of what Julian P. Boyd, the founding editor of the Papers and a student of the writing of the Declaration, called Jefferson’s “composition draft” have survived. What Jefferson came to call his “original Rough draught” was, Boyd surmised, a fair copy made from the earlier drafts. It has considerable significance, however, as the earliest complete version of the Declaration in Jefferson’s hand. It did take on some characteristics of a draft, Jefferson making several emendations to it (including alterations he ascribed to John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, who along with Jefferson, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston made up the committee charged by the Continental Congress with the drafting of a declaration). In editing the “Rough draught” for publication, Boyd endeavored to recover the text of Jefferson’s fair copy—that is, Jefferson’s original full text before any collaborative revision. To that end, this rendition of the text does not take account of alterations to the manuscript that represented, in Boyd’s estimation, changes to the fair copy. In Volume 1 of the Papers, the “original Rough draught” is the third of a set of documents related to the Declaration. The other documents in the group are: two parts of the composition draft (pp. 417-23, referred to in the annotation below as Document I and Document II); a version showing changes made by the committee and by Congress (called Document IV, noted on p. 429 of the volume and incorporated in a set of Jefferson’s notes on pp. 315-19); and the Declaration as adopted by Congress (Document V, pp. 429-33). Boyd’s Editorial Note on the drafting of the Declaration is on pp. 413-17. There, and in the annotation to the “Rough draught” below, he cited John H. Hazelton, The Declaration of Independence: Its History (New York, 1906) and Carl Becker, The Declaration of Independence. A Study in the History of Political Ideas (New York, 1922 and 1942). He also cited his own work, Julian P. Boyd, The Declaration of Independence: The Evolution of the Text (Princeton, 1945), which illustrated the “original Rough draught” along with other manuscript versions of the Declaration and is available in a revised edition edited by Gerard W. Gawalt (Hanover, N.H., 1999).
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June 21, 2010 – Federalist No. 39
Monday, June 21st, 2010Guest Blogger to Constituting America
John S. Baker, Jr.,
the Dale E. Bennett Professor of Law at Louisiana State University
Federalist 39 answers attacks that the proposed Constitution is not “republican” and not “federal.” In his response, Publius effectively redefines both terms.
Claiming the proposed government is not “strictly republican” is a serious charge. Publius recognizes this, saying “no other form would be reconcileable with the genius of the people of America; with the fundamental principles of the revolution; or the honorable determination which animates every votary of freedom, to rest all our political experiments on the capacity of mankind for self-government.”
The term “republican” ( Latin “res publica,” or “public thing”) had an uncertain meaning. Common to its various understandings would have been an opposition to an hereditary monarchy and aristocracy. Republicanism referred to self-government, but proponents and opponents of the new Constitution had very different ideas about what that meant.
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Wisconsin Veteran Must Remove Flag After Memorial Day, Wife Says
Monday, June 14th, 2010An Army veteran in Wisconsin will be allowed to display an American flag until Memorial Day, but the symbol honoring his service in Iraq and Kosovo must come down next Tuesday, his wife told FoxNews.com.
Dawn Price, 27, of Oshkosh, Wis., said she received a call from officials at Midwest Realty Management early Wednesday indicating that she and her husband, Charlie, would be allowed to continue flying the American flag they’ve had in their window for months through the holiday weekend. The couple had previously been told they had to remove the flag by Saturday or face eviction due to a company policy that bans the display of flags, banners and political or religious materials.
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Today is Flag Day
Monday, June 14th, 2010Flag Day is observed on June 14 each year, although it isn’t an official federal holiday.
Congress authorized a red-white-and-blue flag with stars and stripes, the official national symbol of the United States of America, on June 14, 1777.
Continue reading “Today is Flag Day” »
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