To my fellow Americans:

[the_hefay]

Happy Independence Day!

[sury]

Thank you and wishing you the same.

Sury

[bakubo]

Happy Independence Day!

Or as the queen calls it, Treason Day.

Happy_Treason_Day.jpg

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[bakubo]

This little essay by George Friedman that I received in email yesterday is good:

Two hundred and forty years ago today, the American people were declared to be a unique and independent nation, distinct from all others. This was the conception of the people, but the sovereign government of the United States was born in battle. The revolution lasted eight years and about 25,000 died – a higher percentage of the population than died in World War II. This led over time to the Constitution, which founded the regime that governed the American people.

It was a unique regime because it did not trust politicians. The founders feared the politicians’ desire for power. To solve this problem, they founded a regime so unwieldy, so inefficient, that very little could get done. Their vision of America was a country of businesses and farms, churches and societies. They envisioned a nation whose heart was not in Washington – an artifice invented to hold politicians – but in private life. The life of farmers, businessmen, clergymen and eccentrics. Few other governments were founded with such fear of governance.

I recently told a foreign friend that his country has excellent relations with Washington, but it needs a better relationship with America. Many of our non-American friends live in countries where the political capital is the heart of the country. That isn’t the case in the United States. The American revolution was fought to make certain the government was weak and society strong and free. Our founders feared strong presidents and contrived to cripple them before they took office by confronting them with two Congressional houses run on different rules and a Supreme Court. Very little can get done, yet America flourishes.

When you marvel at our candidates for president, bear in mind that the U.S. president is among the weakest heads of government in the world. The sacrifice of 25,000 was to make sure tyranny would not rule this country. If the price was political paralysis, it was a small price to pay.

[bakubo]

And to get this on a photography theme, here are some cool, historic photos!

Meet The Group Of Revolutionary War Veterans That Lived To Get Their Photo Taken

http://americanmilitarynews.com/2016/04 ... oto-taken/

The Revolutionary War ended in 1784… let that sink in for a second. While photography was invented in the 1820s and 1830s, 40-50 years after the war ended, it wasn’t until much later that the technology was used widely enough that normal people were having their pictures taken.

[the_hefay]

Excellent Henry. Thanks for the link. I loved going through the portraits.

[bakubo]

This has additional info.

Faces of the American Revolution

http://time.com/3800743/faces-of-the-am ... evolution/

[sury]

Fascinating. Thanks for the links, Henry.

Sury

[aster]

.

Hi Jeff;

Smart choice of angle for the shoot. Neatly backlit against the sun and the blue sky. Have the essence of liberty and independence soaring from the scene with that flag flapping in waves.

Henry, thanks for sharing the articles. Lessons to learn in those few lines....

Thanks for sharing,

Yildiz

[the_hefay]

Thanks Yildiz. It's a photo I took years ago in downtown Dallas. It's always been a favorite of mine.

[bakubo]

Fascinating. Thanks for the links, Henry.

You are very welcome, Sahib.

[sury]

Henry,
Be nice......

[bakubo]

Henry,
Be nice......

Was I too familiar? Is Sahibzada better?

[sury]

Sahib is fine, Henry. You are hereby permitted to be familiar.

Sury