Many blogs have posted content about the Fourth of July (American Independence Day) this week. This led me to one fascinating tradition some people have adopted as part of their celebration. I don't know who to credit with the idea because I have seen it many times. But you know what? I've finally found a way to celebrate the holiday that makes sense to me and one I can support.
The idea is simple, and I am surprised I hadn't thought of it before. Devote some time on the 4th to reading some of the classic documents of American history. Not the revisionist garbage swallowed by Christian extremists like Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), but the original material. There are so many good ones to choose from, but I'll start with these:
- Declaration of Independence
- U.S. Constitution
- Treaty of Tripoli
- McCollum v. Board of Education Dist. 71, 333 U.S. 203 (1948)
- Engel v. Vitale, 82 S. Ct. 1261 (1962)
There is much the Christian right does not want you to know about American history. Fortunately, the information is out there and can be accessed with little effort.
The 4th of July has never been my favorite holiday, and this tradition won't change that. But it does give me another way to think about the day and highlight something worth celebrating.
