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The Magnolia Political Report for July 2, 2002
Magnolia Report 24B
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Magnolia Political Mini-Report
July 4, 2002
(Number 24B) - Web Version
www.MagnoliaReport.com
Just a note to let you know the Magnolia Report will go on hiatus in celebration of Independence Day. Wednesday, July 3 will be the last update until Monday, July 8. When we get back from break, we will prepare a regular political report as well as announce the 2001-2002 Maggy Awards. The Maggy Awards salute the best in Mississippi online political journalism.
July 6 is the one year anniversary of the launch of MagnoliaReport.com, bringing you the online scoop for Mississippi politics since 2001.
That might not be very historic, but Thursday we celebrate a great American holiday. Magnolia Report Editor Brian Perry writes a weekly column for the Madison County Journal (www.onlinemadison.com). This is an advance read on this week's Fourth of July column.
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REASONABLY RIGHT by brian perry
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MADISON COUNTY JOURNAL for July 4, 2002
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www.onlinemadison.com
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Happy Birthday America
We define our history and heritage with dates and events. But by what measure of time and place do we pinpoint the creation of our great country? Is it by the Constitution? On Plymouth Rock? From the Magna Carta? Do we look to Rome or Athens or Jerusalem or back to Eden?
The birth certificate of my grandfather William Perry, listed his birthday as August 23; but we always celebrated his birth on July 6 because, in fact, that was the day he was born. Someone might argue for another date, but if anyone really wondered, all they had to do was show up on July 6, and the party would answer their question.
So by whatever standard one chooses to date the birth of this nation, I think the party today makes it abundantly clear. This is July 4th. This is the day of the great American Declaration; this is our Independence Day.
Therefore, America. The Beautiful. The Free. The Land of Liberty. Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday to the self-evident truths and unalienable rights. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, through equality of opportunity, under the Supreme Judge of the World. Conceived in liberty and born of struggle. Secured on the pledges of life, purchased by fortunes of many and established through sacred honor. Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday to a government of, by and for the people. A state ordained and established for the sake of justice, peace, defense and welfare for Her citizens and their children. With enduring freedoms to worship, speak, assemble, bear arms, and secure our homes and property.
Happy Birthday to our grand old flag, our high flying flag. The Red, White and Blue. The Stars and Stripes still remain, despite bombs bursting in air, or terror falling from the sky. To the ideals of our soldiers, veterans, citizens and families that sacrificed the priceless blessing of life, Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday, whether from Billy Yank or Johnny Reb. Happy Birthday whether from the Pacific Coast, Big Sky Country, Dixie or New England. Happy Birthday from the Golden Gate to the Gateway Arch. Many Happy Returns from the Great Lakes to the Grand Canyon. The Smokies to the Rockies. Alaska to Alabama. Niagara Falls to the Everglades. Manhattan to Honolulu. Forests, swamps, mountains and hills, rivers and lakes, deserts, grasslands, spacious skies from sea to shining sea. Millions in concert say Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday to the land where my fathers died, to the land of the Pilgrim's pride. Happy Birthday to where the eagles soar and the buffalo still roam. To that one indivisible nation under God, Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday to the home of 300 million common kings, ruling and serving in concert through an egalitarian nobility. All men created equal, innocent till proven guilty, bound and protected through the due process of law - a democracy's divine right of kings transferred to each and every citizen. To the American Dream, the American Experiment, the American Destiny, Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday to the American countryside dotted with farmers and ranchers raising a crop, a herd, a harvest to feed millions and billions around the world. Happy Birthday to the American cities, standing tall like man made mountains of stone, glass and steel, creating an economy for the entire planet built on the foundations of freedom, capitalism, responsibility and compassion.
Happy Birthday to every morning in America.
Happy Birthday, rapped in an urban style, to a Latin swing, with a country twang and a jazzy scat. Happy Birthday, chanted by a Cherokee tribe, played on a Delta guitar, with a symphony back up. Happy Birthday from nose-pierced kids and Wall Street executives. Happy Birthday from skaters and surfers, from cowboys and truck drivers, from artists and lawyers. The immigrated children of Italy and Spain, China and India, Africa and Arabia, England and Ireland all send a Happy Birthday to themselves, for they are all now Americans.
Happy Birthday to Freedom, triumphant in War and Peace. Happy Birthday to the Lady Liberty. Happy Birthday to Justice for All.
Happy Birthday to the work of the Founding Fathers, Founding Mothers, the Brothers and Sisters in the Cause of Liberty. To the patriotism imagined in the eyes of wise men and burned from the hearts of young romantics. To the sovereignty of the individual. To the empire of the people. To the hope of the impoverished. To the deliverer of the oppressed. Happy Birthday.
Our Nation, our Country, our State. She is one year older but remains that New World the whole world turns to for leadership, vision, peace and justice.
God Bless America. Happy Birthday, USA.
Brian Perry is a columnist for the Madison County Journal and Editor of the Magnolia Political Report.
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Magnolia Political Report, 2002
Brian Perry, Editor
www.magnoliareport.com
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© Magnolia Political Report 2002 • PO Box 24233 Jackson, Mississippi 39225
FAX 601.355.7885 • scoop@magnoliareport.com
Brian Perry, Editor