The Fourth of July
Two hundred thirty-three years ago today, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress, explaining with staggering eloquence the sundering of ties between the tyrannical British Empire and the Thirteen Colonies, now styling themselves as the United States of America. 4 July 1776 is an epoch comparable to the Greek victory in the Persian Wars, the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Norman Conquest of England, and the Protestant Reformation. The world we know is beset with woe and strife, but in the last two-and-a-third centuries more has been accomplished to break the ancient patterns of poverty and bondage than in the preceding whole of history, and doubt not that this is a direct result of the grand experiment in "government of the people, by the people, for the people" that we know and love as America.

Though I trust only in God Almighty, I have never liked our national motto, adopted in the hysterical 1950s, "In God we trust;" I prefer the traditional, ever unofficial motto, E pluribus unum, "out of many, one." We are the many, my fellow citizens, and together we form one body politic that is greater than the sum of its parts. One nation, indivisible, "the last, best hope of Earth." We argue and we curse and we say things that cannot be taken back over how best to govern this blessed land, but always (okay, usually) in a spirit of patriotism, because we all know the paramount importance of our republic to the freedom of all Mankind. I may mock President Obama as "our charlatan president" because I disagree with his policies, but he is still our president, my president. However much we argue, we remain one, E pluribus unum.

Happy birthday, America, and many happy returns.





The Rebel Black Dot Song of Independence Day
The New American Brass Band, "Hail Columbia" from The Civil War: Original Soundtrack Recording (T.L.A.M.)

The Cadillac of Meats
I hold in my heart a profound, slightly puzzling hostility toward Spain and Spaniards, and partially as a consequence I have begun adopting Portugal and the Portuguese as a more palatable Iberian alternate. So far, I'm loving this decision: Henry the Navigator, the flag of Ceuta, King Sebastian and the disastrous Battle of Alcácer Quibir, Brazil, and now… Piglink!

"Hey, man, ever been to Mealhada?"
"Yup, and, boy howdy, I had a meal!"