Re:Birth of a Nation: Declarations...Celebrations...standing to be corrected, "Oh Dear"...

"Dear Abby" Well, a derivative, truncation, term of endearment, nickname, for many formally, initially named "Abigail"...shortened even further to A.A....as in Abigail Adams. To be correct, as history would have it, the 'Second First' lady was born as Abigail Ameila Smith, who then came to be known as "Nabby" (at least rhymes with Abby), and eventually as Abigail Ameila Adams, the wife of John Adams, one of the "Founding Fathers". While we around here, U.S. in this Great Nation, who continue to engage, 'enjoy' -- in the sense of being able to do so openly rather than having to resort to clandestine communication, by virtue of the First Amendment, part of the Bill of Rights -- animated debates, all the way up the Supreme Court, the highest 'law of the land' (well, to be corrected, who review the laws of the land written by another "Branch", to determine whether they are truly Constitutional, in their nature). Yes, an animated debate that helped to bring about the "Birth of a Nation"...

Born on: While we around here continue to have great debates on what this "Experiment in Democracy" (common reference to the U.S. of A. by ourselves and others, a humble reflection, the ability to celebrate while acknowledging our imperfections, great opportunities for improvement) should look like, a debate that will hopefully continue without obstructions from outside sources, we should all at least pause and ask what we, ourselves, are willing to still stand up for. As in protest, whether passively or with more 'fireworks', ultimately declaring "Independence!" (I often ask teens, vying for their "rights!" to do at least a cursory review of our collective history, how we came to be, how many lives were sacrificed, prior to 'standing up' to...as in "I'm 18!"). John Adams, one of the Founders, in a letter to his wife, on behalf of us all (as in "succeeding generations"), that "...this day will ("should be") be celebrated as the great anniversary Festival...a Day of deliverance...by solemn acts of devotion to God...pomp and parade...games, sports (as in hot dog eating?)...illuminations (which were accompanied by ample supplies of "kaboom", "oohs", and "ahs" last evening, and the preceding several days, rather than the actual 4th, at least where I reside)..."To be completely correct, at least in "Nabby's" imagined response, as in "Dear John"..."I am proud of the stand you have taken, not only in joining with a few other Father's, in declaring our independence, but also in protesting that the day we should be cooking up a Joey Chestnut portion of red hots on our grills and prepping to otherwise leave a trail of smoke from local firework displays, most of which were manufactured in...that this Day should actually be moved up 48 hours, when you and the other members of the Second Continental Congress, started signing the document declaring our independence, giving rise..." This, again, in my imagination, in an attempt to fully engage you, to in turn, reflect on...

"No Greater Love..." Pause, sit and reflect; stand to be counted, corrected. Celebrate US.