/dev/null Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 I've made it a habit to read this every July 4th and encourage others to do the same: http://www.usconstitution.net/declar.html 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. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new guards for their future security — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. — The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within. He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our People, and eat out their substance. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power. He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury: For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offences: For abolishing the free system of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies: For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our Governments: For suspending our own Legislature, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation. He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. In every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. Nor have we been wanting in attention to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends. We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. John Hancock Button Gwinnett Lyman Hall Geo. Walton Wm. Hooper Joseph Hewes John Penn Edward Rutledge Thos. Heyward, Junr. Thomas Lynch, Junr. Arthur Middleton Samuel Chase Wm. Paca Thos. Stone Charles Carroll of Carrollton George Wythe Richard Henry Lee Th. Jefferson Benja. Harrison Thos. Nelson, Jr. Francis Lightfoot Lee Carter Braxton Robt. Morris Benjamin Rush Benja. Franklin John Morton Geo. Clymer Jas. Smith Geo. Taylor James Wilson Geo. Ross Caesar Rodney Geo. Read Tho. Mckean Wm. Floyd Phil. Livingston Frans. Lewis Lewis Morris Richd. Stockton Jno. Witherspoon Fras. Hopkinson John Hart Abra. Clark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanker Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Nice work Slash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UConn James Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 A bit of trivia: the DoI actually wasn't signed by John Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress, until 2 August, and then by the other Signers a few weeks after that and through November. Connecticut's own Jonathan Trumbull took a few liberties in his famous painting of the signing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Poojer Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 I was at Independence Hall/Liberty Bell/Constitution Center on Saturday with my son. It's still pretty amazing to be on such hallowed grounds. I've made it a habit to read this every July 4th and encourage others to do the same: http://www.usconstitution.net/declar.html 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. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new guards for their future security — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. — The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within. He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our People, and eat out their substance. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power. He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury: For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offences: For abolishing the free system of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies: For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our Governments: For suspending our own Legislature, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation. He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. In every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. Nor have we been wanting in attention to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends. We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. John Hancock Button Gwinnett Lyman Hall Geo. Walton Wm. Hooper Joseph Hewes John Penn Edward Rutledge Thos. Heyward, Junr. Thomas Lynch, Junr. Arthur Middleton Samuel Chase Wm. Paca Thos. Stone Charles Carroll of Carrollton George Wythe Richard Henry Lee Th. Jefferson Benja. Harrison Thos. Nelson, Jr. Francis Lightfoot Lee Carter Braxton Robt. Morris Benjamin Rush Benja. Franklin John Morton Geo. Clymer Jas. Smith Geo. Taylor James Wilson Geo. Ross Caesar Rodney Geo. Read Tho. Mckean Wm. Floyd Phil. Livingston Frans. Lewis Lewis Morris Richd. Stockton Jno. Witherspoon Fras. Hopkinson John Hart Abra. Clark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilsner Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Thanks for posting dev. Keep it up. Definitely keep it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanker Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 I was at Independence Hall/Liberty Bell/Constitution Center on Saturday with my son. It's still pretty amazing to be on such hallowed grounds. I was there last Tuesday. Took my mom and sis who were visiting from Roch-cha-cha. Then went to the Reading Terminal Market and then Gino's and Pat's. First time for them for each of those spots. Some of the best places in Philly, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Poojer Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 (edited) i get the draw of Gino's and Pat's and that if you are visiting you should hit those spots..but best cheesesteak (so far) is tony lukes, and you would have not missed any gastronomic treats if you had simply stayed at reading terminal and had a roast pork with brocoli rabe at dinics..... are you in Philly??? we need to have a TBD meetup out here sometime... I was there last Tuesday. Took my mom and sis who were visiting from Roch-cha-cha. Then went to the Reading Terminal Market and then Gino's and Pat's. First time for them for each of those spots. Some of the best places in Philly, IMO. Edited July 4, 2011 by The Poojer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peace Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 The Dec was read on July 2. The aging TJ and Adams screwed up the date and thus we are a bit off in our celebration. Reading Terminal is a national treasure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBill Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanker Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 i get the draw of Gino's and Pat's and that if you are visiting you should hit those spots..but best cheesesteak (so far) is tony lukes, and you would have not missed any gastronomic treats if you had simply stayed at reading terminal and had a roast pork with brocoli rabe at dinics..... are you in Philly??? we need to have a TBD meetup out here sometime... Agreed on TL's, and I told them as much, but they had to go to Gino's and Pat's. Reading Terminal was awesome - but it was at noon and about a billion people were there getting lunch, so we just touristed. I'm in Princeton - about an hour away. A TBD meetup sounds pretty grand... maybe at one of the watering holes you write about. We should get AJZepp to come back and join us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramius Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 (edited) i get the draw of Gino's and Pat's and that if you are visiting you should hit those spots..but best cheesesteak (so far) is tony lukes, and you would have not missed any gastronomic treats if you had simply stayed at reading terminal and had a roast pork with brocoli rabe at dinics..... are you in Philly??? we need to have a TBD meetup out here sometime... Don't know what you're talking about, but i got some old HS friends, and my entire gf's family is from philly, and they ALL say that no matter who you like, you eat at Geno's or Pat's. Tony Luke's is an abomination of a cheesesteak, and he's nothing of a knockoff imposter who makes absolute crap. Recommending tony luke's is akin to telling someone to skip Duff's or Anchor Bar and go to Buffalo Wild Wings for wings. Edited July 5, 2011 by Ramius Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Poojer Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 its nothing like telling someone to go to BWW...BWW is a national chain, Tony Lukes is a local place. I like it because I like the meat they use better than the 'steak-um' style meat that Pat's and Geno's seem to use....granted the pepper bar at Pat's is worth going there alone....but for my money, so far I prefer Tony Lukes when it comes to Cheesesteaks...but it is also a dynamic search....I am going to try as many different places as I can.... Don't know what you're talking about, but i got some old HS friends, and my entire gf's family is from philly, and they ALL say that no matter who you like, you eat at Geno's or Pat's. Tony Luke's is an abomination of a cheesesteak, and he's nothing of a knockoff imposter who makes absolute crap. Recommending tony luke's is akin to telling someone to skip Duff's or Anchor Bar and go to Buffalo Wild Wings for wings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramius Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 its nothing like telling someone to go to BWW...BWW is a national chain, Tony Lukes is a local place. I like it because I like the meat they use better than the 'steak-um' style meat that Pat's and Geno's seem to use....granted the pepper bar at Pat's is worth going there alone....but for my money, so far I prefer Tony Lukes when it comes to Cheesesteaks...but it is also a dynamic search....I am going to try as many different places as I can.... Well, we all have our flaws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Poojer Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 dude...we are all Bill's fans....flaws don't even begin to break the surface.... Well, we all have our flaws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRC Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Cheesesteaks? Jim's on South Street. As far as a Philly meetup, there are plenty of great places for food/beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Poojer Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 yeah, have heard i should check that place out...just haven't been able to wade through the flash mobs and marauding bands of young people to get there yet...actually, i never seem to get past the condom store...even though i haven't bought anything from there.... Cheesesteaks? Jim's on South Street. As far as a Philly meetup, there are plenty of great places for food/beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jauronimo Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Cheesesteaks? Jim's on South Street. As far as a Philly meetup, there are plenty of great places for food/beer. Are you smoking crack? I have a friend who had a long layover in Philly and he was talking to this dude who's cousin lives in the Camden and he said anyone who doesn't eat at Pat's or Geno's is a flaming communist crackpot, so even though you have actually eaten at these places and I'm just relaying third hand info, you obviously don't know what you're talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Poojer Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 (edited) not sure who that is directed at, but I am all in favor of everyone who visits philly to eat at Pats and/or Geno's...I was simply saying that I have found better cheese steaks elsewhere...I always take people to Pat's & Geno's...kind of like taking people to the anchor bar for wings in buffalo...gotta at least say you did it..... ...and no, i am not smoking crack...but i bet your buddy's cousing is....that's all they do in Camden Are you smoking crack? I have a friend who had a long layover in Philly and he was talking to this dude who's cousin lives in the Camden and he said anyone who doesn't eat at Pat's or Geno's is a flaming communist crackpot, so even though you have actually eaten at these places and I'm just relaying third hand info, you obviously don't know what you're talking about. Edited July 5, 2011 by The Poojer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peace Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 I like some things at Tony Lukes but I would never ever go there for cheesesteaks. A chicken cutlet with broccoli rab, yes. Cheesesteaks, go to Pat's or Gino's. I actually really like Jim's on South Street for cheesesteaks a lot. And the best ones all use the steak-ums sort of cut. You don't want a chunk of steak in your cheesesteak FFS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRC Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Are you smoking crack? I have a friend who had a long layover in Philly and he was talking to this dude who's cousin lives in the Camden and he said anyone who doesn't eat at Pat's or Geno's is a flaming communist crackpot, so even though you have actually eaten at these places and I'm just relaying third hand info, you obviously don't know what you're talking about. The guy was from Camden. 'Nuff said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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