Fourth Of July

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. (Words in italics/ parentheses of this partial Declaration are mine, others by, Thomas Jefferson, and we should heed these words again, today) We hold these truths to be self-evident, (That is what they knew was true) that all men are created equal, (And they all knew this, too) that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, (That Freedom, is for all people and for what, a brave man, fights) that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. (The citizens of our Nation fought for, their rightful redress) That to secure these rights, (We will do what we must) Governments are instituted among Men, (A government, we can trust) deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, (It’s, we, the people who will rule That’s not, what we have learned) That whenever any Form of Government (Think they rule the Land) becomes destructive of these ends, (We, the people, will take a stand) it is the Right of the People (What, our Constitution decrees) to alter or to abolish it, (Before, they bring us to our knees) and to institute new Government, (we can vote all of them out) laying its foundation on such principles (What our Country is about) and organizing its powers in such form, (To what the people will) as to them shall seem most likely (Duties, they must fulfill) to effect their Safety and Happiness. (So, we shall not regress) Prudence, indeed, will dictate (Be careful, what is changed!) that Governments long established (When needed, rearranged) should not be changed for light and transient causes; (that our quest for our Rights is not stemmed by wordy clauses)

never ends or pauses and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind (Is a species craving freedoms. Of life on Earth, a unique kind) are more disposed to suffer, (Which, we have had our share) while evils are sufferable (But eased, when others care) than to right themselves by abolishing (Watch out, what you let go) the forms to which they are accustomed. (And the life we’ve grown to know) But when a long train of abuses (Seems lately, there’s been many!) and usurpations, pursuing (And the meanings, they convey) invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them (They try to end those rights) And try to change their idem) under absolute Despotism, (If that’s how the try to rule) it is their right, it is their duty, (To use the voter’s tool) to throw off such Government, (From this land of the free) and to provide new Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; (Before the time of statehood) (They longed for freedom’s bounties) and such is now the necessity (The time for change was due) which constrains them to alter (A new Government, too) their former Systems of Government. The history of the present (It was cruel and unjust) King of Great Britain (A man they could not trust) is a history of repeated (Time after time again) injuries and usurpations, (Constraining all free men) all having in direct object (Control by the Crown) the establishment of (to try to beat them down) an absolute Tyranny over these States. (But, we finally changed that King’s mandates.) Del “Abe” Jones 06.28.2008

RE-BIRTH Back at the birth of our Nation We fought to be Free from oppression Something unique in the World And we learned many a hard lesson. There was some trial and error Although, we finally got it right But, it seems that nowadays Some Rights are fading from sight. If we let them slip away from us Even just, a little at a time If we don't stand, to preserve them It will most surely, be a crime. It's government, “By and for the People!” Not to be dictated, by a few And it's time we take our Country back And what we hold, “Self-evident and true!” When Freedom was really threatened We stood together in the fight But, there have been those times When those Wars, just weren't right. We are still the greatest Nation That this World has ever known But, Freedom for other peoples Can't be forced, but must be shown. We must set the right example And protect our own Constitution Not let it be changed around To suit some other's resolution. Speaking of our great Constitution And our Bill of Rights, too We should take time to read them That's something, everyone should do. So, this Fourth, let's set a goal To make our Founding Fathers proud Tell our Government, “You work for us!” “Twisting our Laws won't be allowed!” Del “Abe” Jones 07.01.2007 AND, PROUD TO BE Two hundred and thirty-two years After we planted Freedom’s seed After our Country’s Declaration This World still has a great need.

Time for the Peoples of all Nations To learn what we have always known Since the very first and Proud day Our Stars and Stripes were flown. But, we can’t force Freedom on them For if we do, it won’t be Real It’s something that must grow on you To change the way you Think and Feel. We can only try to show them how And be an Example they can follow Stand up against those in our own Ranks Who try to take Freedom’s we know. We must show we have the Courage To not let our own people take away Any of those Rights so Guaranteed To us, on that long past, July day. We must Protect our Way of Life And let the rest of the World see That it’s something to be Proud of When you live in a Land of the Free. Del “Abe” Jones INDEPENDENCE DAY In the year of 1776 That paper was decreed They were tired of oppression And wanted to be freed . They wrote a Declaration So the whole world would see This was, "the home of the brave And the land of the free". They signed that piece of parchment The leaders of this land Knowing, divided they would fall But, together they could stand. A new world lay before them Untamed from shore to shore They swore the would protect it If it meant going to war. Battles have been fought And many lives have been lost So sad something so basic Has such a high, high cost. Seems freedom is a luxury

There's some would bind us all Like then, together, we can stand But divided, we will fall. More than two hundred years Have past by since that day That each of us celebrate In our own different way. We should be proud and thankful Pay a share of the cost Not take freedom for granted For it easily could be lost. JULY THE FOURTH I wonder what those folks would think (Those, who wrote our Freedom’s Declaration) Would they believe, those happenings That have, forever changed our Nation. Would they believe, some terrorists Are, from our Country, homegrown Spreading hate, death, and destruction In the Homeland of their own. Would they believe our “open door” Has ushered in our enemy Those who believe we’re evil And don’t believe in Liberty. What would they think, if they could see Crime running rampant, in the street Guns, drugs, and homeless people And so many more, locked-in, retreat. Would they believe, Freedoms treasured Have been twisted all around To where the criminals civil rights Beat the victims, to the ground. Would they believe, that businesses Most of them, big and small Treat their employees as the pawns To reach, “the bottom line”, that’s all. Would they believe, those voted to Office Who we should trust, to guide the way Can’t be trusted, most of the time To live up to what, they say. What would they think, would they rewrite And would they take exceptance To what we did, with what they wrote In The Declaration Of Independence.

Del “Abe” Jones IRAQI INDEPENDENCE We should have waited till the Fourth To have handed over Power Then they could have shared that day When we had our Finest Hour. They could have Declared Independence Like we did in Seventy-six And if they’d have asked us all about it We could have shown them a few tricks. We could have told them, "Watch the Feds!" So they wouldn’t go "that" way To be "owned" by special interests While all the Common People pay. So they would have the Retirement They’ll work all their lives to get To treat all of the old and sick That our Medicare hasn’t yet. So they wouldn’t have the homeless We force to live out on the street And have places to fight addictions And those retarded, we mistreat. So they could take care of their Veterans Those, who survive a shooting war And for families of those who Give All Take care of them too, even more. Oh, we could give them an earful About the Best Country on this Earth To help make theirs even better Than we have made ours worth. We declared our Independence On the Fourth day of July And we will always remain Free If we don’t forget the reasons, Why. Del “Abe” Jones