Understanding July 4th
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Understanding July 4th
Fourth of July is right around the corner, well this Sunday. It's right smack dab in the middle of the summer and a great way to spend a day with family, friends, or just a special someone.
Although the celebrations of the 4th can be exciting, parents shouldn't forget to explain why it's important to our country.
Yes, it's about fireworks, hot dogs, playing outside until you resemble a cooked lobster, but it's specifically about the risk our forefathers took when they told the powers that be in Great Britian to stick it you know where.
We'd already been at war for a year when the Founding Fathers amended and approved the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, in Philidelphia, PA. Most of those who signed it didn't add their signatures until August 2, 1776.
They took a big jump in saying they were ready to govern themselves, despite what King George thought. Although actually winning independence took another five years (1781), our country, despite its problems, is an amazing place to be.
It's important as parents that we instill a sense of pride and patriotism in our children to be proud of where they live and who they are. This doesn't mean you agree with the political climate or where our troops are deployed, it simply means to stress the importance of living in a country where opinions are protected and voices are allowed to be heard.
This July 4th, be proud to live here in America.
Comments
7/13/2010 6:53:56 PMLizHH said:
Thank you so much for this tip Patricia. I think of this every year and I'm struck by how little most people (kids and adults) think about why we celebrate it.
I'd like to share some thoughts with you: My spouse and I hang a flag every day, but for the 4th we put flags all over our yard. This year we talked to a lot of people about in the aftermath of 9/11 everyone had flags flying anywhere that they could put them.
Almost 9 years later we are still at war and I drove down around the streets in my neighborhood on the 4th and hardly saw any flags out. We need to instill more pride in our children.
This was a great tip, and I'm passing it along to friends who have children.
7/13/2010 10:20:57 PM
Patricia said:
Thanks Liz!
I know, people tend to forget when we get farther and farther away from an event, people start to think of other things.
Hopefully, people will start to realize again how important July 4th is all year and not just on that day.
