Friday, July 04, 2008

With Freedom Comes Responsibility

... And part of our responsibility as free people is to NOT follow along blindly, but to be informed and to think for our selves and to make up our own minds about things.

Here's some questions to consider:
  • What does freedom mean to you?
  • Would you say “give me liberty or give me death”? (Patrick Henry, 1775)
  • How often do you take a stand for what you believe in – at work, with friends, with family?
  • How often do you “go along” with something just because you don’t want to draw attention to yourself, or you don’t want to make a fuss?
  • How often do you exercise your “freedom” to say no when you really don’t want to do something you’ve been asked to do?
  • Do you take on the opinions and perspectives you hear on the news or read in the paper? or do you investigate other sources and come up with your own opinion?
As you celebrate this July 4th, give some thought to what the words to the pledge of allegiance really says:

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all.”

Here’s a word-by-word interpretation of it from the late comedian and actor Red Skelton: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfz2XDXaeqc

The First Pledge of Allegiance:

“I pledge allegiance to my Flag, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all.” – Francis Bellamy (1855-1931) written in 1892 for a school's 400th year Columbus Day celebration. (listen to more of it's history on my podcast: www.happy-seeds.org)

Other Sites of Interest:
Here's to exercising Freedom to learn, to grow, and to search for the Truth in all things...

-Becky