Fireworks broke the darkness of the sky over Washington last night in a choreographed dance of light that paid tribute to our nation’s independence. It was a breathtaking display marking America’s birth of freedom–a sight to behold, a sight to remember. Last week, another choreographed display befell Washington as more than 200 illegal immigrants were welcomed into the U.S. Capitol as props for Senator Dick Durbin’s (D–IL) immigration reform show. It was a scene designed to tug at the heartstrings and garner support for his pet project, the DREAM Act, …
The nation’s capital was treated to a beautiful fireworks display last night. You can expect more of the same this week in Washington as the clock ticks toward the Obama administration’s Aug. 2 deadline for a deal on the debt limit. The House returns from a weeklong district work period and Senate is back in town after canceling recess for a rare Independence Day workweek.
London today celebrated Ronald Reagan’s 100th birthday and his role in bringing down the Iron Curtain with the unveiling of a 10-foot bronze statue of the former President at the U.S. Embassy in England. British Foreign Secretary William Hague and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke at the event, which drew a crowd of 2,000. Reagan’s statue will stand alongside those of former Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Franklin D. Roosevelt. The tribute is one of many commemorations of Reagan’s legacy held across Europe over the past week.
America was born on July 4, 1776, with the passage of the Declaration of Independence. Today, as we celebrate our great country 235 years later, we reflect upon its meaning. The Declaration announced to the world that the American colonies were free and independent states. But this alone does not make the document or America revolutionary. What is revolutionary about the Declaration is not that a particular group of Americans declared their independence under particular circumstances but that they did so by appealing to a universal standard of justice: equality. …
America’s birthday is also that of Calvin Coolidge, the only president born on the Fourth of July. Though best remembered as “Silent Cal,” Coolidge is one of the most eloquent defenders of America’s principles. And the Declaration of Independence received his highest praise: “If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions.” An experienced public …
On the day when everyone celebrates America and the glorious document that justifies its existence, I’d like to offer three cheers for the amazing Americans who make up this great country. After all, we revere the principles of the Declaration of Independence because they give rise, when applied, to a nation of self-reliant, generous, hard-working and courageous people—a people whose passion for liberty fuels a vibrant civil society that is a true wonder to behold. In this spirit, here are five great virtues that I, a foreigner living here for …
Bankrupting America is out with a new video today running though recent polling data on the debt ceiling and government spending. As lawmakers in Congress continue to debate the issue — the Senate will skip its Independence Day recess for the first time since 1974 — it’s worth reflecting on public opinion. And if you’re looking for a good weekend read about the history of the debt limit — and the implications for our country — check out my colleague J.D. Foster’s work. It’s a comprehensive overview on what Congress …
“The principles of our republic must be protected vigilantly at home and defended fearlessly abroad,” Heritage President Edwin J. Feulner states in a special message for Independence Day in this week’s Heritage in Focus podcast. “Read the Declaration of Independence,” Heritage scholar David Azerrad urges. “It’s the philosophical soul of America.” In this week’s Heritage in Focus, Dr. Feulner wishes you a Happy Independence Day. Then, the Assistant Director of the Center for Principles and Politics, David Azerrad, explains why we celebrate Independence Day on the fourth of July rather …
Antagonists of religious belief will go to extraordinary lengths to drive out any mention of the spiritual from the public square. A few weeks ago, the streets of Brooklyn were witness to such extreme secularism. There a new commemorative street sign has created a stir among local and national atheist groups, who claim the sign’s reference to “heaven” is offensive and unconstitutional. On September 11, 2001, seven firefighters from a Brooklyn firehouse rushed into the World Trade Center after the first tower was hit to help victims of the terrorist …
Hundreds of thousands of protesters poured into the streets of Syrian cities on Friday to call for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in one of the largest outpourings of opposition since protests began over three months ago. At least 12 protesters were killed by Assad’s internal security forces. More than 1,400 Syrians, most of them peaceful protesters, have been massacred in a series of violent crackdowns by the embattled regime in Damascus. The Assad regime, which has ruled Syria with an iron hand since seizing power in a military …
