”America's birthday reminds us that this is a nation
of ideas grounded on immutable truths formed by ‘the Laws of Nature and of
Nature's God,’ and that, despite fleeting claims to the contrary, there is a
permanent standard of justice applicable to all men and all times. And therein
is our hope.” — Matthew Spalding, Heritage Foundation
"On July 4th, we renew our commitment to the
American Idea — the belief that all men are created equal. We read the
Declaration. We tell our kids the history. We remember those who died to
protect our country. And along the way, we remind ourselves of why we love it.”
— Paul Ryan, congressman
"As JFK said in his inaugural: ‘The same
revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around
the globe — the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of
the state but from the hand of God.” — John J. Pitney Jr.,
Claremont McKenna College
"Declaration of Independence — first thing in
first document is God as source of rights, prior to the state, and as apparent
by use of reason (i.e., natural law). Everything else flows from there.” —Anthony
R. Picarello, Jr., U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
"We celebrate the greatest political movement
of all time — a milestone in political history. Our revolution was the good
revolution. It didn't eat its young or degenerate into terror or pave the way
for an even worse tyranny than the one it replaced. It gave birth instead to
the most perfect political experiment yet devised by man.” — Mona
Charen, columnist
"When I seek to understand what sustained the
Founders of the Republic through all their extraordinary acts of courage and
sacrifice, I turn to Mr. Jefferson, who wrote, in his last year: ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself and your country more than yourself.’” — Lee
Edwards, William F. Buckley Jr.: The Maker of a Movement
"The Declaration of Independence founded our
nation. The Constitution founded our government. As Americans, we proudly claim
both. But we are first and foremost heirs to the ideals of the Declaration. We
are defined by what Thomas Jefferson called the Spirit of '76. That's as
important today as it was in 1776.” — Scott Rasmussen,
RasmussenReports.com
"For me the 4th of July represents courage. The
courage that the Founding fathers had to step out from under the thumb of their
oppressors. The courage to define a new path that is built on human truths and
not personal gain. The courage to lay all on the line for what is right and
good.” — M. Zuhdi Jasser, American Islamic Forum for Democracy
"Count me among those who believe that this is
a uniquely great country. So when the fireworks go off, I'm always a little
misty. I find it awe-inspiring to be surrounded by so many people, in person
and across the country, united for a few brief moments in paying homage to the
land we call home.” —Charmaine Yoest, Americans United for Life
"One of my oldest memories is of the 4th of
July celebration on Beacon Field in Greenfield, Mass. It was the first place I
saw fireworks, and the first place I witnessed a community worth fighting for.
My family attended the celebration religiously, knowing in our hearts that the
small town party reliably delivered corny, old-fashioned patriotic perfection.
If you need to be reminded of the promise of our country, Beacon Field is a
great place to start.” – Kevin Hassett, American Enterprise
Institute
"The Fourth of July is on the opposite end of
the year than Thanksgiving, but it honors the same ideals. Expansive, sandy,
mustardy, sunburned, and awed by glitter exploding across the dark blue sky.” —Frederica
Mathewes-Green
"This July 4th, more than any other in my
lifetime, serves as a powerful reminder of fundamental principle of the
American experiment in self-government. Not only is it the 237th anniversary of
the declaration by a small set of colonies that they would govern themselves,
but also the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, which secured our
nation's future as a republic.” — John Yoo, University of
California at Berkeley
"It is rather for us to be here dedicated to
the great task remaining before us. That from these honored dead we take
increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of
devotion. That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in
vain. That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. And that
government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from
the earth.” – Abraham Lincoln, from The Gettysburg Address
"The Fourth is an amazing celebration of
America's past, present, and future. The extraordinary vision of our Founding
Fathers shapes the contours of our freedom, freedom secured by the promise,
integrity, and courage of Americans past, present, and yet to come. God bless
America, especially our military!” — Mary Hasson, Ethics and Public
Policy Center
"When I think of the Fourth of July, I think of
the sacrifices made by so many for this country, from the Founding Fathers, to
my own parents. And I pray that my generation will be worthy of those
sacrifices.” — Gina Dalfonzo
"The Fourth of July is a day to celebrate
America’s unique goodness. I am an American exceptionalist because America is
exceptional. There is, literally, no other nation ‘conceived in liberty,’ begun
explicitly in the belief that all human beings are equal in the possession of
inalienable rights.” – Jim Talent, former U.S. senator
"The Fourth of July is a time to recommit
ourselves to the principles that prompted our Founding Fathers to create this
great nation. To prove ourselves worthy of our great birthright of freedom. To
keep the torch of liberty burning brightly and prepare to pass it to the next
generation.” - Jim DeMint, Heritage Foundation
"There is no concept of the 4th of July
anywhere else and probably will not be in the future. Our task is to keep this
rare inheritance alive for another generation.” — Victor Davis Hanson,
historian
"On July 4th, everyone should read the
Declaration of Independence.” — John J. Miller, Hillsdale College
and National Review
"Every year on Independence Day, I like to read
through the Declaration all the way through, from the immortal opening lines
through the long list of grievances against the king.” — Adam Keiper,
The New Atlantis
"What I really think about it summer. Glorious
summer. Nights that stay light. Slow-moving hot days. The sound of music
playing from a stereo somewhere. The smell of Coppertone. Although, in a way,
isn't that patriotic, too?” — Rob Long, co-writer, Cheers
"Independence Day reminds us of our stewardship
duties, of the gift of this beacon of an experiment in freedom, rooted in the
first, religious freedom, imbibing us with a respect for the dignity of each
and every man and woman, girl and boy, in his last days or in her mother’s
womb. It’s our call. Will we answer?” – Kathryn Jean Lopez,
National Review
"The original Fourth, in 1776, declared our
independence from London. These days, the Fourth reminds us of the need to
reject overbearing government, now from Washington.” — Daniel Pipes,
columnist
"The Fourth of July and Thanksgiving have
always been my two favorite holidays as a Christian; perhaps that is not kosher
to admit. But on the Fourth, I remember the freedoms I enjoy – especially the
freedom to live out my faith in a land of many faiths – and the people much
braver than I that fought so that I might give thanks for a full and free
life.” – Ashley E. McGuire, Catholic Association
"Independence Day makes me exultant. The
Bicentennial celebration in 1976, when I was 12 years old, was one of the most
important intellectual milestones of my life; it set me on a lifelong path of
valuing liberty above all other civic goods. All Americans are blessed to be
heirs of the Continental Congress's work.” — Quin Hillyer,
columnist
"Even the most politically correct historian,
who spends the other 364 days of the year dismissing the signers of the
Declaration of Independence as old white male patriarchal slaveholders, takes
Independence Day off to salute the work of the Founding Fathers.” – Jim
Geraghty, National Review
"For my first forty years, I lived in a country
enduring 'managed decline.' I felt relief as well as enthusiasm as an immigrant
in America when the U.S., under Reagan, recovered its verve. Now, on the Fourth
of July, as America succumbs to what used to be called the ‘British disease,’ I
want to grab Americans by the lapels, shake them, and say: Don't you realize
that you're throwing away your independence? Find your own Thatcher.” — John
O’Sullivan, National Review
"Independence Day celebrates the fountainhead
of the true American republican creed, which justifies a government for one
purpose only: to protect the natural rights of citizens — life liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness — and which holds that no person can rule another without
the latter's consent. These rights are antecedent to the establishment of
government. We need to recognize that the Declaration lies at the heart of our
national political life.” — Mackubin Thomas Owens, U.S. Naval War
College
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