Here's an open ended question, for which I do not have an answer myself. But, I think, it's worth pondering this weekend...What does the following phrase mean to you: "The Spirit of (17)76"?
Let the fireworks begin!:)
Saturday, July 04, 2009
The Spirit of '76
Here's an open ended question, for which I do not have an answer myself. But, I think, it's worth pondering this weekend...What does the following phrase mean to you: "The Spirit of (17)76"?
Let the fireworks begin!:)
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33 comments:
Hi Paul,
Happy July 4:)
Freedom
Was that one of the ghosts in Christmas Carol?
Freedom, fireworks, revolution, and my son's birthday.
Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder so is this one.
It could be freedom, a patriotic spirit,a sense of finally, or it could be flat out a spirit of rebellion.
comic book characters
The "motivation" behind a band of patriots who declare independence from a powerful empire in order to form their own empire.
Those desires which caused people to rise up against a government that held them bondage. Maybe we need some of that spirit...eh?
Ruth, PA
It's the desperate commaderie that occurs among those that realize they've gone too far to turn back, without losing it all, and so go forward with all they have.
A friend sent these quotes this morning.
Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.
John Adams
It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.
George Washington
All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.
Thomas Jefferson
Ruth, PA
"[Independence Day] will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore."
-John Adams
HT to Chuck Baldwin
here is a great link for all patriots and America haters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc8Gdgjqsec
Trinity,
Is there anything in between, or is just like Jesus...you're either with Him or against Him?
Paul,
did you watch the video?
what a great nation we have the privilege to live in
here is another video for you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Jf3MQpffBc&feature=related
and yes there is room for people to be in the middle.
I did, Trinity. It is very moving.
That nation is the one that I would so gladly defend.
Spirit of 1776: independence, determination, adventure, freedom.
Is there an actual, living spirit behind it, or is it just a figure of speech that embodies those characteristics we value (like Jackie and other mentioned)?
A few years ago I started paying attention when people used the word "spirit" in this way. Most of the time, I don't think they are referring consciously in any way to a living spirit. But I have wondered if there might actually BE living spirits behind those situations/organizations/etc. which we label as having a "spirit."
In my town, there is a monument built about 15 years ago. It is shaped like an obelisk, like the Washington monument. This shape was used in the ancient world to represent false gods. The obelisk in my town honors "The Spirit of American Citizenship."
Might be interesting to look at the use of that word, and at each instance of it that touches something important to you, and ask God if it is a real spirit, and if so, is it from Him, or from the enemy?
Scroll down a bit in this article to see a photo of the citizenship monument:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadsden,_Alabama
Vera,
Are you serious?
You people take this spirit and idolatry thing too far. I think it is amazing that people can be so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly good.
I guess I shouldn't cheer on my local high school football team because of the school spirit that might be behind it.
As a matter of fact why don't we all become like the Amish and just shun all people that re not like us.
Trinity, I think you too easily buy into the propaganda of Caesar and cannot see the dangers behind it.
Anonymous,
You completely underestimate my ability to think for myself. There are some things that the government feeds us that I don't buy, but there are somethings that make logical sense also. When my nation turns it's back on Israel, outlaws guns or freedom of religion then and only then will I cease to defend it, until that moment I will remain loyal to it and to God. God then country, and that is how it will always be.
Trinity, sometimes I'm tempted, but it would mean I'd have to give up blogging.:))))))
I'm suggesting that you can't think yourself, but Israel, guns, and freedom of religion, these are the non-negotiables?? As long as we have these, the Pax Americana can continue without questioning that our allegiance to this state - our nationalism and our patriotism - just might hurt the vitality of our faith?
Should have read: "I'm not suggesting that you can't think for yourself..."
Well, the phrase was coined in imitation of the French "Spirit of '89" which involved (in translation) "liberty, equality/leveling, paternity (in reference to the "fatherland") or death". Later, "fraternity" replaced "paternity".
So, when I run accross the term, I associate it with the notion of the "American Revolution".
I would say, in VeraLee's defense, that the concept of underlying spiritual forces/daimones was not foreign to occult terminology of the eighteenth century, familiar to at least some of the early leaders and ideologues of the Republic. I think that it is a valid question, personally, although I will say that I don't think that most references to "the spirit of '76" are meant as references to a literal spirit being. However, I do find such evocative references bordering on or tripping over the line into nation/state-worship (of a sort which was very familiar to revolutionaries on both sides of the Atlantic and on both American continents in the late 18th/early 19th cc).
*bumps* to the various anonymous contributors here
I think it has something to do with high treason against the UK.
Do you think that it's out of the question that there might be an actual spirit of communism behind the former soviet union and its reign?
In other words, is it out of the question that there could be an actual spirit behind some other government, or is it only ridiculous when posed about democracies?
I believe that the Bible makes it clear that there are principalities and powers, and specific roles such as the Prince of Persia. Since I believe that there are actual evil spirits which operate in this world, I prefer to be very selective in how I use the term. I realize that it is used to describe sort of a visceral human emotion, (not unlike the idea of the human spirit), in something like the "Spirit of 76", but I think it confuses and misuses the term "spirit". One can also question what kind of emotion is being described - everything from freedom to rebellion is suppose.
I try to use the word spirit only when I'm actually talking about a spirit. I also have taken the word lucky out of my vocabulary and replaced it with blessed. I don't care to give Fortuna, or any random chance the glory for anything good - just God. I've actually seen rather neat reactions when I purposefully choose to say blessed - people get it. Words do indeed matter, and I think that they matter at a very deep level.
This goes along with (in topic, not goal/conclusions) many of the posts in recent weeks.
Might want to right click that and 'open in new window' I did the link wrong
And then we talk about "the wind of democracy beginning to blow" in other countries. So we could take this into the whole spirit/wind connotations of pneuma/roach (that's the Hebrew roach, not the 6-legged bug).
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