Today I laid down a challenge to my friends.  On this day, the 236th anniversary of the signing of our founding document, the Declaration of Independence… read it.
Not just look it up on the computer and gaze at the screen.
No.
Take a hard-copy of this document, find a public place, stand up and read it, out loud,
loud enough for those around you to hear.
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html

I could not ask others to to do what I was unwilling to do, so I did just that.

I marched in a parade in support of my chosen candidate.  I told him of my intent and he was all for it, encouraging me to stand up for my nation in this way.

After the parade we ended up at the park by the food stands.  People were talking, laughing, eating, enjoying beverages of all types.  I joined them in this revelry, celebrating our day of Independence.

Satiated, I took my copy of our Declaration from my pocket, stood up, and read it…
out loud…
loud enough for those around me to hear.

I was disappointed.

As I read our founding document, people were talking, laughing, eating, enjoying beverages of all types… as if there was nothing different or special going on around them, except for one lady who stood up and walked away.

Well, that’s not entirely correct.  There were one or two people who actually took notice, young folks.

There is hope for the coming generation, if they can get past the cynicism of their predecessors.