Two-hundred and twenty-eight years ago today, more than four-dozen Americans pledged their "lives," "fortunes," and "sacred honor" in declaring America's secession from the British Empire. They meant it. South Carolinian signer Thomas Heyward got shot in battle and became a prisoner of war. Virginian signer Thomas Nelson gave the order to shell his own home when the redcoats occupied it. New Jersey's Richard Stockton endured the ransacking of his home and time as a prisoner of the Brits. He died penniless.

More than two centuries later, the document they signed deserves a reading by every American. This is especially true on this day. Among its more timeless pronouncements, the Declaration of Independence notes that governments derive "their just powers from the consent of the governed," that people "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights," and that when governments become oppressive "it is [the citizens'] duty, to throw off such Government."

Happy Independece day to you Dan. Also to all of your supporters who help this site run. May everyone take a second or two today and remember what it means to be a citizen in this the greatest country on the globe. I am proud to be an American and today everyone gets to thank our forefathers for being tough sons of bitches. God bless to all, and finally at 4:25AM a fond goodnight!

sorry about spelling of Independence!!!hahaha Some American I am?

Thanks for having served your country Dan, I often wonder if we deserve what our military men do for us, but I humbly appreciate it. Happy 4th to you and Mols.

It’s very exciting that we can still celebrate our country’s independence from foreign rule and respect the memories of the strong and courageous Patriots and their families who sacrificed so much so that we can continue to live in freedom today.

This is a great and powerful country built on the foundations of liberty and freedom.

But, for how much longer? How long before Cinco de Mayo and other foreign rooted days of celebration become national holidays, chipping away at our society and the reasons that this country was founded in the first place?

Our politicians are very good at pandering to the American people with talk of national pride and the greatness of America. But unless they start pulling together all of the independent groups of natives and foreigners alike who are separating this country with their own personal vision of what it means to be an American, we are heading in the direction of a nation no more.