This year I was going to post a video file, or an audio file, of a reading of the Declaration of Independence. However, I discover that it is beyond my ability to find a reading in which the Declaration of Independence hasn’t been edited, trimmed, or had complete paragraphs left out.
Also, simply finding a reading of the Declaration of Independence which doesn’t collapse into a political screed, or rant about “Jesuits”, “Freemasons” or other conspiracy favourites is bloody difficult.
So, I post a link to the document itself. Take some time in between the fireworks, the BBQs and the parties to read, and to ponder the reason for this holiday.
Gentle Readers, have a happy and safe Independence Day.
LawDog
LD, I found a copy of the entire declaration I played it on last nights show, and tonight I’m playing the Constitution. I got them from Librivox, link below if it will post.
http://www.archive.org/details/
declaration_of_independence_librivox
Mark
I just posted the links on my blog for the Declaration and the Constitution, plus I have the full text of both there as well, with attribution.
Mark
It’s not a video but at least you can read it 🙂
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/index.htm
Happy 4th Dawg
Why is “safe”? “Have a safe summer”, “have a safe I.D.” Does it means that celebrations in this part of the world supposed to be dangerous?
LD, I’m sorry I didn’t read your blog this morning before I set out. I went, with my wife and friends, to Old Sturbridge Village (in Massachusetts) for their 1830’s-style Fourth of July celebration, where, among other things, a state senator dressed in period garb read the ENTIRE Declaration of Independence from a podium to an appreciative audience. I only taped the first few minutes… but if I’d known, I’d have brought a tripod and recorded the whole thing for you. Sorry, pal.
Geez, I “zoom” it 400% and still couldn’t read the damn thing.
Oh well.
Mike
Heh, I did the same thing.
Anonymous, “Have a safe ________” is a traditional cop/EMT/fireman/etc. farewell. They do it without even thinking about it.
Not sure about posting a link or how to do that but I have this CD “We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident” Narrated by Max McLean and I think it is well worth the $10 or so at Amazon. It has the Declaration, Preamble, Gettysburg Address and Lincoln’s Second Inaugural.
I’m a frequent reader and enjoy your blog.
Kevin
Thanks LD, it’s been too long since I read those words. Kinda nice that it still gives me chills to read.
Thanks LawDog- what an interesting thing to do after we forget what it says after the early school years! Killer reminder- THANKS!!!
A new reader from AD, BabsRn and Matt
John
I have listened, with some pleasure, to National Publice Radio’s reading of the declaration for many years now. In listening to the web file and reading along to be sure it is complete, I have decided that it is actually a rather insipid reading. The NPR crew read as if to a small child. There is no fire, no anger in what is really a scathing indictment of the monarch and his government. For all that, it is worth the price of the download.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11703583
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/
story.php?storyId=11703583
You know, if we hear anything about the Declaration it is the multicult mantra “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal” You never really hear or read the text of the abuses or grievances that are listed. Maybe there is a reason for that. One can read through that list and apply many if not all of them in some form to the Government today. It’s shocking. In fact the “long train of abuses” are far more numerous and severe at the hands of our own Federal Government than they were at the hands of the British government.
“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.” – Well, apparently not when there is pizza delivery, TV and sports. aka bread and circus. Liberty be damned! A bunch of guys are chasing around bouncing a ball on TV!