We are approaching the 242nd anniversary of the acceptance of Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee’s motion to the Continental Congress, made on June 7th, 1776, calling for independence from Britain. After heated debate, on July 2nd, the Congress voted for acceptance, and set in motion events that, as John Adams wrote, “will be celebrated … as (a) great anniversary festival . . .” When Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, about the new world the Continental Congress was creating, he envisioned celebrations that would include, “Pomp and Parade … Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations” all across the country. George Washington was in: he ordered celebratory double rations of rum for all of his soldiers in 1778. But Adams was miffed that the celebrations of independence were scheduled on July 4th, and reportedly refused to attend events scheduled on that date.
The basic facts of Independence Day are part of every school child’s education, but I did not know, until recently, that John Adams considered July 2nd as the date we should celebrate, and not July 4th, the day that delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the document drafted by Thomas Jefferson: “The Declaration of Independence.” (On an ironic note, Adams died on the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration, on July 4th, 1826.) Though there was a lack of unanimity amongst the delegates from the colonies, the majority came together to reach consensus on an important direction for the future of the country. The reports of the time may not have captured the level of rancor that may have flavored any debate, but one can only imagine the ponderous and florid language used to express both approval and disapproval.
When George Washington was a 16-year-old school boy, he copied a list of 110 “Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour” that were based on a 16th century set of precepts compiled by Jesuit instructors for young gentlemen. The original manuscript is in the Library of Congress, but the little booklet that I have makes for interesting reading. There are some among us who would do well to heed Rule Number 21: “Reproach none for the infirmities of nature, nor delight to put them that have in mind thereof.” And into the age of Twitter-Rage, comes Rule Number 65: “Speak not injurious words, neither in jest or earnest; scoff at none although they give occasion.” Or this one: “A man ought not to value himself of his Achievements, or rare Qualities of wit; much less of his riches Virtue or Kindred.”
Today, we’re witnessing the erosion of civility and the advance of school yard name-calling. We do not listen to the views of others with an intent to understand, but to build our rebuttals and castigations. A person who perceives a slight is increasingly likely to hit back, and hit harder, when hitting is the most violent of all the responses available to us. We should work to avoid expressions of animus, and (this one is hard for me) don’t assume that people with different goals disagree with ours because they do not like us. Instead of stapling ourselves to the flag and demanding that others do the same, let’s agree that our differences are the things that make us unique and interesting and worthy of comradeship. The signers of the Declaration of Independence were not in agreement about everything, but they did concur on the idea that achieving a better country was possible, but could not be accomplished without collaboration with others.
This Independence Day, let us sever our ties to hate, and declare our independence from nastiness and anger.