I was not aware of this second July 4th speech by Frederick Douglass, so I'm grateful to you for sharing it.
To your question, I commemorate the 4th because of the aspirations represented by the Declaration of Independence, just as my military service and that of my father before me was based on the American ideal rather than the reality. The comparison between Douglass' observations in 1862 and where we stand today is illuminating, and once again, we owe you a debt of gratitude for your insightful perspective on history and how humankind consistently fails to learn from it, to paraphrase Georg Hegel.
I have personally had a good life in America despite its history and unresolved issues. I attribute this to the unmerited favor of my circumstances, which were all God's doing and for which I take no credit whatsoever. I recognize that far too many people in America did not have that favor in their lives, and my obligation and commitment is to cast a light on the things we can do to change things now and in the future.
I was born in America with the blood of slaves and slaveholders coursing through my veins. My ancestors and my family have given of their blood, sweat, and tears to this nation, so I celebrate their investment in this land, and I acknowledge the wisdom of Scripture when contemplating my role and responsibility as a citizen. Consider the Lord's words to the nation of Israel as they were being dragged into exile in Babylon, not knowing at the time they would be there for 70 years:
"Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29:5-7).
I also believe in an intentional God, and that we are where we are in the time we are in for a reason:
"From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands" (Acts 17:26).
I will seek the prosperity of America, which will be realized only when our many parts function as one body, we bestow greater honor to those parts that have not been honored in the past, no one part is diminished by or exalted over others, and we share in one another's sufferings and rejoicing (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). We will have unity in the body only when we embrace its diversity.
My oh my, don't these words ring true? "They raised the cry and put it into the mouth of the ignorant, and vulgar and narrow minded". Thank you for today's post as I had not heard of it before.
I was not aware of this second July 4th speech by Frederick Douglass, so I'm grateful to you for sharing it.
To your question, I commemorate the 4th because of the aspirations represented by the Declaration of Independence, just as my military service and that of my father before me was based on the American ideal rather than the reality. The comparison between Douglass' observations in 1862 and where we stand today is illuminating, and once again, we owe you a debt of gratitude for your insightful perspective on history and how humankind consistently fails to learn from it, to paraphrase Georg Hegel.
I have personally had a good life in America despite its history and unresolved issues. I attribute this to the unmerited favor of my circumstances, which were all God's doing and for which I take no credit whatsoever. I recognize that far too many people in America did not have that favor in their lives, and my obligation and commitment is to cast a light on the things we can do to change things now and in the future.
I was born in America with the blood of slaves and slaveholders coursing through my veins. My ancestors and my family have given of their blood, sweat, and tears to this nation, so I celebrate their investment in this land, and I acknowledge the wisdom of Scripture when contemplating my role and responsibility as a citizen. Consider the Lord's words to the nation of Israel as they were being dragged into exile in Babylon, not knowing at the time they would be there for 70 years:
"Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29:5-7).
I also believe in an intentional God, and that we are where we are in the time we are in for a reason:
"From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands" (Acts 17:26).
I will seek the prosperity of America, which will be realized only when our many parts function as one body, we bestow greater honor to those parts that have not been honored in the past, no one part is diminished by or exalted over others, and we share in one another's sufferings and rejoicing (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). We will have unity in the body only when we embrace its diversity.
My oh my, don't these words ring true? "They raised the cry and put it into the mouth of the ignorant, and vulgar and narrow minded". Thank you for today's post as I had not heard of it before.