Freedom is indeed a treasure to cherish and celebrate, and here are some of the well said quotes on this occasion:
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” ~Thomas Paine
“Liberty is always dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have.” ~Harry Emerson Fosdick
“We stand for freedom. That is our conviction for ourselves; that is our only commitment to others. ”
~ John F Kennedy
“Where liberty dwells, there is my country.”
~ Benjamin Franklin
“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves. ”
~Abraham Lincoln
“In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.”~ Franklin Roosevelt
“The United States is the only country with a known birthday. ~James G. Blaine….
Now is that a fact? …. anyways, happy birthday America…
10 responses so far ↓
Jerry M // July 5, 2009 at 10:17 am
“The United States is the only country with a known birthday. ~James G. Blaine….
Now is that a fact? …. anyways, happy birthday America…
When James Blaine said it, it was probably true enough. The US was the first independent country to come from the great age of European conquest and colonization (and I may even be wrong on that but I don’t think so). Today many countries can celebrate similar birthdays.
Jerry M // July 6, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Questions:
What do Saudis make of Independence Day? Is it something they would be familiar with?
Hala // July 6, 2009 at 5:45 pm
The day of 23 September is our National day, it’s the day when King Abdulaziz Al-Saudi united Saudi Arabia territories under one country “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” on 1932, until King Abdullah came to be a king, no one celebrated that day, but since he came, he announced that day as a National Holiday and we don’t have this celebrative mood everywhere where families picnic out and watch fireworks and National music and displays the as Americans do… However, there is a festival done every year in Riyadh called”Janadriyah“, where themes of local Saudi folklor and cultural events are organized and displayed for public, many international guests attend the festival as speakers and as observers of the Saudi traditions… In general, we don’t get the patriotic sense through public events as Americans do…
Jerry M // July 6, 2009 at 10:22 pm
I think the US is unique among Western countries in the fervor of its patriotism (the French do have national pride but they don’t show it the same way). Most Americans see a connection between their local institutions and the national government.
When I read Saudi blogs, I don’t see much evidence that the typical young Saudi (and this is after all who blogs), feels a great sense of connection between him or herself and civil institutions.
Hala // July 7, 2009 at 1:27 am
I agree… We need to share in the making of our systems to feel the patriotic sense I guess…
A proud saudi // July 8, 2009 at 3:35 am
Well speak for yourself Miss. Hala, maybe you are not connected nor have any patriotism about toward your country, but many of us do.
Hala // July 8, 2009 at 7:36 pm
I always speak for myself, I love my people and have many issues with the institutions…
Unproud Saudi // July 26, 2009 at 4:17 pm
I have a problem with the whole thing : )
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Hala, What you think about the American’s double standards?
Hala // July 30, 2009 at 7:33 pm
I don’t approve double standards or abuse of power under any pretext, but I’m not the president of any country, so my opinion doesn’t shape the world, having to witness/ admire a celebration of independence and a birth of constitution that honors human rights and freedom of choice is one thing and approving the current or past foreign policies of the country is another thing…
Jerry M // August 6, 2009 at 11:38 am
@Unproud Saudi
I certainly think the US needs to get back to standards. If any phrase exemplifies what US standards are it is the phrase ‘consent of the governed’. Where the US has succeeded it has used its power with the consent of all those involved – just think of post WWII reconstruction. Where it has failed, the US has ignored the interest of all the parties involved – think the middle east.
When WWII ended I am sure most Americans felt that the Japanese and the US would never become friends. Our cultures were too different. Yet, today we are friends and allies. I don’t know if the same thing can happen with the US and countries of the middle east and Muslim Asia but there is some small hope.